DC-to-DC converter having charge pump and associated methods
First Claim
1. A DC-to-DC power converter for supplying power to a load from a source, the converter comprising:
- a switch for supplying power from the source to the load;
switch drive means for controlling said switch and being operable from a supply voltage;
a charge pump, connected to said switch drive means and to an input voltage, for selectively boosting the supply voltage to said switch drive means; and
charge pump control means cooperating with said charge pump for controlling the supply voltage to said switch drive means, said charge pump control means comprisingpass through means for passing through the input voltage to the supply voltage based upon the input voltage being above a first voltage,constant boost means for boosting the supply voltage to a substantially constant value based upon the input voltage being less than the first voltage and greater than or equal to a second voltage wherein the second voltage is less than the first voltage, andmultiple boost means for boosting the supply voltage by a multiple of the input voltage based upon the input voltage being less than the second voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A DC-to-DC converter includes a charge pump, connected to a switch drive and to an input voltage, for selectively boosting the supply voltage to the switch drive; and a charge pump controller cooperating with the charge pump for controlling the supply voltage to the switch drive. The charge pump preferably includes a plurality of transistors connected in series with the supply voltage, and at least one capacitor connected to the transistors. The charge pump controller passes through the input voltage to the supply voltage based upon the input voltage being above a first voltage; boosts the supply voltage to a substantially constant value based upon the input voltage being less than the first voltage and greater than or equal to a second voltage wherein the second voltage is less than the first voltage; and boosts the supply voltage by a multiple of the input voltage based upon the input voltage being less than the second voltage. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A DC-to-DC power converter for supplying power to a load from a source, the converter comprising:
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a switch for supplying power from the source to the load; switch drive means for controlling said switch and being operable from a supply voltage; a charge pump, connected to said switch drive means and to an input voltage, for selectively boosting the supply voltage to said switch drive means; and charge pump control means cooperating with said charge pump for controlling the supply voltage to said switch drive means, said charge pump control means comprising pass through means for passing through the input voltage to the supply voltage based upon the input voltage being above a first voltage, constant boost means for boosting the supply voltage to a substantially constant value based upon the input voltage being less than the first voltage and greater than or equal to a second voltage wherein the second voltage is less than the first voltage, and multiple boost means for boosting the supply voltage by a multiple of the input voltage based upon the input voltage being less than the second voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A DC-to-DC power converter for supplying power to a load from a source, the converter comprising:
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a switch for supplying power from the source to the load; switch drive means for controlling said switch and being operable from a supply voltage; a charge pump, connected to said switch drive means and to an input voltage, for selectively boosting the supply voltage to said switch drive means; and charge pump control means cooperating with said charge pump for controlling the supply voltage to said switch drive means, said charge pump control means comprising pass through means for passing through the input voltage to the supply voltage based upon the input voltage being above a first voltage, and boost means for boosting the supply voltage based upon the input voltage being less than or equal to the first voltage. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A DC-to-DC power converter for supplying power to a load from a source, the converter comprising:
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a switch for supplying power from the source to the load; switch drive means for controlling said switch and being operable from a supply voltage; a charge pump, connected to said switch drive means and to an input voltage, for selectively boosting the supply voltage to said switch drive means, said charge pump comprising a plurality of transistors connected in series to the supply voltage and at least one capacitor connected across predetermined ones of said plurality of transistors; and charge pump control means cooperating with said charge pump for controlling the supply voltage to said switch drive means, said charge pump control means comprising pass through means for turning off said plurality of transistors to draw substantially no power and for passing through the input voltage to the supply voltage based upon the input voltage being above a first voltage, and boost means for boosting the supply voltage based upon the input voltage being less than or equal to the first voltage. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for operating a DC-to-DC power converter for supplying power to a load from a source, the converter comprising a switch for supplying power from the source to the load, and switch drive means for controlling the switch and being operable from a supply voltage, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a charge pump, connected to the switch drive means and to an input voltage; passing through the input voltage to the supply voltage based upon the input voltage being above a first voltage; and boosting the supply voltage using the charge pump and based upon the input voltage being less than or equal to the first voltage. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification