Highly efficient step-down/step-up and step-up/step-down charge pump

• US 6,657,875 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Zeng, James S., Holloway, Rendon A., Burgyan, Lajos
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf D.
• Application Number:
  US10/196,790
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 363/59, 363/60, 327/536, 327/537, 307/110
• US Class Current: 363/59
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0032 Control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode
• 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: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A charge pumping system capable of a forward operation mode and a reverse operation mode is provided. In forward operation mode the charge pumping system can step-up an input voltage at a ratio of ½:1 and can step-down the input voltage at a ratio of at east one of 1:1, 3:2, 2:1 and 3:1. In reverse operation mode the charge pumping system can step-down the input voltage at a ratio of 1:½and 1:1 and can step-up the input voltage at a ratio of at least one of 2:3, 1:2 and 1:3.

Claims

1. A charge pumping system capable of a forward operation mode and a reverse operation mode, wherein in forward operation mode the charge pumping system can step-up an input voltage at a ratio of ½

;

1 and can step-down the input voltage at a ratio of at least one of 1;

1, 3;

2, 2;

1 and 3;

1, and wherein in reverse operation mode the charge pumping system can step-down the input voltage at a ratio of 1;

½ and

1;

1 and can step-up the input voltage at a ratio of at least one of 2;

3, 1;

2 and 1;

3.

2. The system of claim 1 comprising:

a first node operable to be connected as either an input node or an output node for the system; and

a second node operable to be connected as either an input node or an output node for the system.

3. The system of claim 1 comprising a switching component operable to be configured to set the ratio for step-up or step-down for the forward and reverse operation modes.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the switching component comprises a fractional switch having a plurality of segments.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a control circuitry for turning on one or more segments of the fractional switch.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the control circuitry implements a PFM technique to turn on the segments.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is implemented in a single monolithic semiconductor die.

8. A charge pumping system capable of a forward operation mode and a reverse operation mode, the system comprising:

a first node operable to be connected as an input node in the forward operation mode and as an output node in the reverse operation mode;

a second node operable to be connected as an input node in the reverse operation mode and as an input node in the forward operation mode;

wherein in forward operation mode the charge pumping system can step-up an input voltage at a ratio of ½

;

1 and can step-down the input voltage at a ratio of at least one of 1;

1, 3;

2, 2;

1 and 3;

1, and wherein in reverse operation mode the charge pumping system can step-down the input voltage at a ratio of 1;

½ and

1;

1 and can step-up the input voltage at a ratio of at least one of 2;

3, 1;

2 and 1;

3; and

a switching component connected to the first node and the second node, the switching component operable to be configured to set the ratio for step-up or step-down for the forward and reverse operation modes, the switching component comprising at least one fractional switch having a plurality of segments.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a control circuitry for turning on one or more segments of the fractional switch.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the control circuitry implements a PFM technique to turn on the segments.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the system is implemented in a single monolithic semiconductor die.