Fractional voltage converter
First Claim
1. An implantable pulse generator for generating electrical pulses for stimulating tissue of a patient, comprising:
- pulse generating circuitry for generating pulses and delivering the pulses to outputs of the implantable pulse generator;
a controller for controlling the pulse generating circuitry;
wherein the pulse generating circuitry comprises a voltage multiplier for multiplying a battery voltage, the voltage multiplier including multiple outputs, wherein a first output of the multiple outputs provides a voltage that is programmably selectable from a plurality of voltages including non-integer multiples of the battery voltage, wherein a second output of the multiple outputs provides a voltage that is a fixed multiple of the battery voltage;
wherein the controller controls the pulse generator circuitry to generate a first pulse for stimulation of the patient using a first output of the multiple outputs and controls the pulse generator circuitry to generate a second pulse to discharge output capacitors of residual charge from the first pulse using a second output of the multiple outputs;
wherein the voltage multiplier comprises;
a plurality of capacitors; and
switching circuitry for selectively connecting to the plurality of capacitors, wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of controllable switches, wherein the plurality of controllable switches includes at least a first switch having a higher relative voltage characteristic and a second switch having a lower relative voltage characteristic;
clock conversion circuitry for converting a received clock into respective level-shifted clocks for application to the plurality of controllable switches, wherein the clock conversion circuitry up-shifts the received clock to a maximum level for generation of a level-shifted clock for application to the first switch and, then, down-shifts from the maximum level for generation of a level-shifted clock for application to the second switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, an implantable pulse generator comprises: pulse generating circuitry for generating pulses and delivering the pulses to outputs of the implantable pulse generator; a controller; wherein the pulse generating circuitry comprises a voltage multiplier for multiplying a battery voltage, the voltage multiplier including multiple outputs, wherein a first output of the multiple outputs provides a voltage that is programmably selectable from a plurality of voltages including non-integer multiples of the battery voltage, wherein a second output of the multiple outputs provides a voltage that is a fixed multiple of the battery voltage; wherein the controller controls the pulse generator circuitry to generate a first pulse for stimulation of the patient using a first output of the multiple outputs and controls the pulse generator circuitry to generate a second pulse to discharge output capacitors of residual charge from the first pulse using a second output of the multiple outputs.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An implantable pulse generator for generating electrical pulses for stimulating tissue of a patient, comprising:
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pulse generating circuitry for generating pulses and delivering the pulses to outputs of the implantable pulse generator; a controller for controlling the pulse generating circuitry; wherein the pulse generating circuitry comprises a voltage multiplier for multiplying a battery voltage, the voltage multiplier including multiple outputs, wherein a first output of the multiple outputs provides a voltage that is programmably selectable from a plurality of voltages including non-integer multiples of the battery voltage, wherein a second output of the multiple outputs provides a voltage that is a fixed multiple of the battery voltage; wherein the controller controls the pulse generator circuitry to generate a first pulse for stimulation of the patient using a first output of the multiple outputs and controls the pulse generator circuitry to generate a second pulse to discharge output capacitors of residual charge from the first pulse using a second output of the multiple outputs; wherein the voltage multiplier comprises; a plurality of capacitors; and switching circuitry for selectively connecting to the plurality of capacitors, wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of controllable switches, wherein the plurality of controllable switches includes at least a first switch having a higher relative voltage characteristic and a second switch having a lower relative voltage characteristic; clock conversion circuitry for converting a received clock into respective level-shifted clocks for application to the plurality of controllable switches, wherein the clock conversion circuitry up-shifts the received clock to a maximum level for generation of a level-shifted clock for application to the first switch and, then, down-shifts from the maximum level for generation of a level-shifted clock for application to the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16)
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9. A method of operating an implantable pulse generator that is adapted to stimulate tissue of a patient, the implantable pulse generator comprising pulse generating circuitry for generating and delivering electrical pulses, the method comprising:
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operating a voltage multiplier for multiplying a battery voltage to provide multiple outputs, wherein a first output of the multiple outputs provides a voltage that is programmably selectable from a plurality of voltages including non-integer multiples of the battery voltage, wherein a second output of the multiple outputs provides a voltage that is a fixed multiple of the battery voltage; controlling the pulse generating circuitry to generate a first pulse for stimulation of the patient using a first output of the multiple outputs; and controlling the pulse generator circuitry to generate a second pulse to discharge output capacitors of residual charge from the first pulse using a second output of the multiple outputs; wherein the voltage multiplier comprises switching circuitry for selectively connecting to capacitors of the voltage multiplier, wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of controllable switches, wherein the plurality of controllable switches includes at least a first switch having a higher relative voltage characteristic and a second switch having a lower relative voltage characteristic, the method further comprising; converting a received clock into respective level-shifted clocks for application to the plurality of controllable switches, wherein converting up-shifts the received clock to a maximum level for generation of a level-shifted clock for application to the first switch and, then, down-shifts from the maximum level for generation of a level-shifted clock for application to the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification