Patent ID: 6023188
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: G05F,G11C,H02M

Abstract:
A high voltage charge pump operable from low voltage Vdd and electronically reconfigurable to output from an output port a positive high voltage V.sub.Pp in a positive mode, or a negative high voltage V.sub.Pn in a negative mode, comprising:a semiconductor substrate;a charge pump circuit, fabricated on said substrate, having an anode node and a cathode node and including a number (N) of series-coupled charge pump stages, each of said stages including a MOS transistor and being AC-coupled to receive one of two non-overlapping phase pulse train signals of amplitude E1, where E1.ltoreq.Vdd, such that adjacent said stages receive different ones of said phase pulse train signals; said pump stages multiplying the AC-coupled E1 amplitude pulse train signals to create a larger magnitude potential therefrom; anda switching mechanism, fabricated on said substrate, coupled to said charge pump circuit;wherein when said charge pump circuit is to operate in said positive mode, said switching mechanism couples a source of said Vdd to said anode node, couples said cathode node to said output port to deliver said V.sub.Pp, and couples a substrate node of each said MOS transistor to a first potential; said larger magnitude potential created by said charge pump circuit having magnitude V.sub.Pp ; andwherein when said charge pump circuit is to operate in said negative mode, said switching mechanism couples a negative potential to said cathode node, couples said anode node to said output port to deliver said V.sub.Pn, and couples a substrate node of each said MOS transistor to a second potential; said larger magnitude potential created by said charge pump circuit having magnitude V.sub.Pnp.