Single stage hybrid charge pump

• US 8,339,110 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2010
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jordan, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US12/754,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20110241629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 320/166
• US Class Current: 320/166
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/155 using semiconductor devices only

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a single stage hybrid charge pump. A switch module is connected to ground. An inductance module is connected between a DC voltage source and the switch module. A first capacitance module is connected to the switch and to the inductance module. A first current blocking module is connected between the DC voltage source the first capacitance module. A second capacitance module is connected to ground. A second current blocking module is connected to a node between the first capacitance module and the first current blocking module and is also connected to the second current blocking module. The switch module is operated to switch between an open state and a closed state thereby causing a voltage across the second current blocking module to increase until it is limited by a voltage limiting module.

Claims

1. An apparatus to store energy, the apparatus comprising:

a switch module connected to ground, the switch module comprising an open state and a closed state;

an inductance module connected between a direct current (“

DC”

) voltage source and a the switch module;

a first capacitance module connected to the switch module and to the inductance module;

a first current blocking module connected between the DC voltage source and the first capacitance module, wherein the first current module allows current to flow from the DC voltage source toward the first capacitance module and prevents current from flowing through the first current blocking module to the DC voltage source;

a second capacitance module connected to ground;

a second current blocking module connected to a node between the first capacitance module and the first current blocking module, and connected to the second capacitance module, wherein the second current blocking module allows current to flow to the second capacitance module in a first direction and prevents current from flowing through the second current blocking module in a direction opposite to the first direction;

a voltage limiting module that limits voltage across the second capacitance module to a predefined limiting voltage that is higher than a voltage of the DC voltage source;

wherein when the switch module is in the closed state, current flows through the inductance module in a direction from the DC voltage source toward the switching module, and wherein current flows through the first current blocking module to store energy in the first capacitance module; and

wherein when the switch module is in the open state, current in the inductance module flows to the first capacitance module, and from the first capacitance module through the second current blocking module to the second capacitance module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein operating the switch module according to a predefined duty cycle charges the second capacitance module to the predefined limiting voltage.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein operating the switch module according to a predefined duty cycle causes a voltage across the second capacitance module that is greater than two times the DC source voltage.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a duty cycle comprises an off time that is greater than six times an on-time of the duty cycle.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein an off time of a duty cycle of the pulse-width modulated signal is less than a single time constant associated with the first capacitance module such that after an initial charge cycle, a voltage is maintained across the first capacitance module.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch control module that provides a pulse-width modulated signal to the switch module, the switch module alternating between the open state and the closed state in response to the pulse-width modulated signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein energy stored in the second capacitance module is provided to an electronic device in response to a voltage drop below a predefined threshold in a power supply path to the electronic device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switch module comprises a first switch, the first switch comprising a transistor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inductance module comprises a first inductor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the inductance module further comprises a first resistor configured in series with the first inductor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first capacitance module comprises a first capacitor and wherein the second capacitance module comprises a second capacitor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first current blocking module comprises one of a diode, a transistor configured as a diode, and a switch, and wherein the second current blocking module comprises one of a diode, a transistor configured as a diode, and a switch.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage limiting module comprises a zener diode in parallel with the second capacitance module, the zener diode having a breakdown voltage that corresponds to the predefined maximum voltage across the second capacitance module.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage limiting module comprises a bleed resistor, the bleed resistor configured to allow sufficient current to flow from the second capacitance module to bleed charge from the second capacitance module to maintain a voltage across the second capacitance module below a predefined maximum voltage.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage limiting module comprises a zener diode in parallel with the second capacitance module, the zener diode having a breakdown voltage that corresponds to the predefined maximum voltage across the second capacitance module, the voltage limiting module further comprising a bleed resistor, the bleed resistor configured to allow sufficient current to flow from the second capacitance module to bleed charge from the second capacitance module to maintain a voltage across the second capacitance module below a predefined maximum voltage.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein operating the switch according to a predefined duty cycle charges the second capacitance module to the predefined limiting voltage.

16. A system to store energy, the apparatus comprising:

a power supply configured to provide power to one or more electronic devices;

an energy storage apparatus coupled to the power supply, the energy storage apparatus comprising;

a switch module connected to ground, the switch module comprising an open state and a closed state;

an inductance module connected between a direct current (“

DC”

) voltage source and a the switch module;

a first capacitance module connected to the switch module and to the inductance module;

a first current blocking module connected between the DC voltage source and the first capacitance module, wherein the first current module allows current to flow from the DC voltage source toward the first capacitance module and prevents current from flowing through the first current blocking module to the DC voltage source;

a second capacitance module connected to ground;

a second current blocking module connected to a node between the first capacitance module and the first current blocking module, and connected to the second capacitance module, wherein the second current blocking module allows current to flow to the second capacitance module in a first direction and prevents current from flowing through the second current blocking module in a direction opposite to the first direction;

a voltage limiting module that limits voltage across the second capacitance module to a voltage higher than a voltage of the DC voltage source;

wherein when the switch module is in the closed state, current flows through the inductance module in a direction from the DC voltage source toward the switching module, and wherein current flows through the first current blocking module to store energy in the first capacitance module; and

wherein when the switch module is in the open state, current in the inductance module flows to the first capacitance module, and from the first capacitance module through the second current blocking module to the second capacitance module.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising an electronic device coupled to the power supply and energy storage apparatus, the energy storage apparatus configured to provide stored energy to the electronic device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the electronic device comprises one of a personal computer, laptop, personal digital assistant, server, and cellular telephone.

19. An apparatus to store energy, the apparatus comprising:

a switch connected to ground, the switch comprising an open state and a closed state;

an inductor and a resistor connected in series between a direct current (“

DC”

) voltage source and a the switch;

a first capacitor connected to the switch;

a first diode connected between the DC voltage source and the first capacitor such that the first diode and first capacitor are in series, wherein the first diode allows current to flow from the DC voltage source toward the first capacitor and prevents current from flowing through the first diode to the DC voltage source;

a second capacitor connected to ground;

a second diode connected to a node between the first capacitor and the first diode and to the second capacitor, wherein the second diode allows current to flow to the second capacitor in a first direction and prevents current from flowing through the second diode in a direction opposite to the first direction;

a zener diode configured in parallel with the second capacitor that limits voltage across the second capacitor to a voltage higher than a voltage of the DC voltage source;

wherein when the switch is in the closed state, current flows through the inductor in a direction from the DC voltage source toward the switch, and current flows through the first diode to store energy in the first capacitor; and

wherein when the switch module is in the open state, current in the inductor flows to the first capacitor, and from the first capacitor through the second diode to the second capacitor.