Circuit and method for generating a voltage for use during active time periods but not inactive time periods

• US 5,926,013 A
• Filed: 02/04/1998
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Brandt, Per-Olof Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US09/018,536
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 323/210, 323/370, 307/108, 307/109
• US Class Current: 323/370
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps

Abstract

A circuit for generating an output voltage which is used during active time periods and not during inactive time periods. A DC/DC converter converts an input voltage to the output voltage. During the inactive time periods, a capacitor is charged with a quantity of charge which is then used to generate the output voltage during the active time periods. The quantity of charge is generated by a current from a current generator. The current is lead to the ground via the capacitor and a diode. As the capacitor is charged more and more, the current diminishes to zero. A control voltage switches the circuit during the active time periods so that the output voltage is obtained. The circuit can be used in a radio transmitter for portable radio equipment, in which the radio equipment is used in a radio system where transmissions occur in bursts.

Claims

1. Circuit for the generation of an output voltage for use during active time periods but not during inactive time periods, the circuit comprising:

means for connecting a control voltage to the circuit, for switching between the active and the inactive time periods,

means for connecting an input voltage to the circuit,

a DC/DC-converter for converting the input voltage into the output voltage including a diode and a first transistor and storage means, wherein said storage means comprises a first condenser and is charged with a quantity of charge during the inactive time periods, for generating the output voltage during the active time periods,

a current generator for generating a current, for generating the quantity of charge which charges said storage means, said current generator comprising a first resistor,

wherein said current generator is connected in series with a parallel connection comprising a first branch which comprises the storage means in series with said diode and a second branch which includes said first transistor,

wherein said storage means and said diode are connected in parallel with said first transistor.

2. Circuit according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating the output voltage further comprises the diode and the first resistor, which resistor is connected to the first condenser so that an RC-circuit is obtained.

3. Circuit according to claim 1, wherein the current generator comprises a second transistor, which has a drain-connection connected to said means for connection of the input voltage, a source-connection connected to said parallel connection, and a gate-connection connected together with the source-connection, whereby a saturation current is obtained for charging the first condenser.

4. Circuit according to claim 1, wherein the current generator further comprises a second resistor, a third resistor and a fourth resistor, a second condenser and a third transistor,

wherein the third transistor'"'"'s collector connection, via the first resistor, is connected to said parallel connection, wherein the third transistor'"'"'s emitter connection, via the second resistor, is connected to said means for connection of the input voltage, and wherein the third transistor'"'"'s base connection, via the third and fourth resistors are connected to said means for connection of the control voltage, wherein the second condenser is connected in parallel with the fourth resistor.

5. Circuit according to claim 1, further comprising an additional resistor and a Zener diode, wherein the Zener diode is connected to a point between the diode and the first condenser and to the base connection of the first transistor, and wherein the additional resistor is connected to the first transistor'"'"'s base connection and to said means for connection of the control voltage.

6. Circuit according to claim 1, wherein the DC/DC-converter is switchable between an active state and an inactive state depending on the control voltage.

7. Circuit according to claim 1, wherein the control voltage is supplied to the first transistor at a control input.

9. Use of the circuit according to claim 1, in a radio transmitter comprised in a portable radio equipment, where the radio equipment is used in a radio system where the transmissions occur in bursts, wherein the output voltage is used as the supply voltage to the power amplifier of the radio transmitter.

8. Circuit according to claim l, wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage between a point, between the first condenser and the diode, with respect to ground, wherein the potential at the point has the value -(input voltage-((voltage drop across the diode))) V.

10. Method for the generation of an output voltage, which output voltage is used during an active time period and which output voltage is not used during an inactive time period, which method comprises:

connecting a control voltage to the circuit, which control voltage switches between the active and inactive time periods,

connecting an input voltage to the circuit,

converting of the input voltage to the output voltage by means of a DC/DC-converter including a diode,

charging of storage means with a quantity of charge during the inactive time periods, which quantity of charge generates the output voltage during the active time periods, said diode and said storage means being connected in series,

generating a current by means of a current generator, which current generates the quantity of charge which charges up said storage means,

wherein the generation of the output voltage during the active time periods includes the switching of the DC/DC-converter from the inactive state to the active state depending on the control voltage,

wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage at a point between said storage means and said diode, with respect to ground,

wherein the potential at said point has the value

-(input voltage-((voltage drop across the diode)) V.

11. Circuit for the generation of an output voltage for use during active time periods but not during inactive time periods, the circuit comprising:

means for connecting a control voltage to the circuit, for switching between the active and the inactive time periods,

means for connecting an input voltage to the circuit,

a DC/DC-converter for converting the input voltage into the output voltage including a diode and a first transistor and storage means, wherein said storage means comprises a first condenser and is charged with a quantity of charge during the inactive time periods, for generating the output voltage during the active time periods,

a current generator for generating a current, for generating the quantity of charge which charges said storage means,

wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage at a point, between the first condenser and the diode, with respect to ground, wherein the potential at the point has the value

-(input voltage-((voltage drop across the diode))) V.

12. Use of the circuit according to claim 11, in a radio transmitter comprised in a portable radio equipment, where the radio equipment is used in a radio system where the transmissions occur in bursts, wherein the output voltage is used as the supply voltage to the power amplifier of the radio transmitter.