Semiconductor device and radio communication device

• US 8,324,760 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Iijima, Masanori, Harasawa, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/835,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20110074220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 307/108, 307/109, 307/139, 307/140, 307/149, 307/151, 327/530, 455/333, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 307/109
• 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: H03K 17/063 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/162 without feedback from the output circuit to the control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/693 Switching arrangements with several input- or output-terminals, e.g. multiplexers, distributors logic circuits H03K19/00; code converters H03M5/00, H03M7/00

Abstract

To provide a fast charge means for a capacitor in a negative bias generation circuit. A capacitor is present in a down converter in a negative bias generation circuit. In order to perform fast charge, the capacitance of the capacitor is reduced and a necessary amount of charge is minimized. On the other hand, an external capacitance provided separately from the capacitor in the down converter is coupled directly to a power supply voltage and charged. After the capacitor in the down converter is charged, the external capacitance and the capacitor in the down converter are coupled in parallel. Due to this, it is made possible to aim at both the increase in charge speed and the improvement of resistance to ripple noise.

Claims

1. A semiconductor device having a negative bias generation circuit including:

an oscillation circuit that can switch an output thereof between high frequency oscillation and low frequency oscillation;

a down converter circuit that includes a first capacitor and stores charges in the first capacitor by an output of the oscillation circuit;

a charge capacity switching circuit; and

a second capacitor that is coupled in parallel to the first capacitor and can be disconnected electrically by the charge capacity switching circuit,

wherein the oscillation circuit performs high frequency oscillation when the power of the semiconductor device is turned on,

wherein the charge capacity switching circuit electrically disconnects the second capacitor from the first capacitor, and

wherein the down converter circuit stores charges in the first capacitor.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,

wherein when the output of the oscillation circuit changes from high frequency oscillation to low frequency oscillation, the charge capacity switching circuit electrically couples the second capacitor to the first capacitor.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 2,

wherein the charge capacity switching circuit outputs a timing signal, and the output of the oscillation circuit changes from high frequency oscillation to low frequency oscillation upon receipt of the timing signal.

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 3, further including a power amplifier that supplies a power supply voltage,

wherein the power supply voltage supplied by the power amplifier is changed in accordance with the timing signal.

5. The semiconductor device according to claim 2, further including a reset circuit,

wherein the reset circuit outputs a reset signal, and the output of the oscillation circuit changes from high frequency oscillation to low frequency oscillation upon receipt of the reset signal.

6. The semiconductor device according to claim 5, further including a power amplifier that supplies a power supply voltage,

wherein the power supply voltage supplied by the power amplifier is changed in accordance with the reset signal.

7. The semiconductor device according to claim 2,

wherein while the second capacitor is disconnected from the first capacitor, the second capacitor stores charges from a power supply voltage.

8. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,

wherein the oscillation circuit is configured to include an RC oscillator.

9. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,

wherein the oscillation circuit is configured to include a ring oscillator.

10. A radio communication device including the semiconductor device according to claim 1,

wherein the semiconductor device is used in an antenna switching circuit.