Patent ID: 8054125
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: G11C,H02M

Abstract:
1. A charge pump circuitry for generating a charging voltage for programming a one time programmable (OTP) memory, comprising: a charge pump sub-circuit for generating the charging voltage in a second voltage range when the charging voltage exceeds a threshold level; a precharge circuit for generating the charging voltage in a first voltage range when the charging voltage is below the threshold level; a voltage measurement circuit for determining the charging voltage, the voltage measurement circuit including a transistor having a source coupled to ground and configured to operate in a weak inversion region to provide a leakage current to ground to protect the voltage measurement circuit from a voltage at an output of the charge pump sub-circuit; a first control circuit for enabling the precharge circuit and disabling the charge pump sub-circuit in a first mode of operation responsive to the charging voltage being determined to be below the threshold level and for disabling the precharge circuit and enabling the charge pump sub-circuit in a second mode of operation responsive to the charging voltage being determined to exceed the threshold level; and a second control circuit for providing an indication that the charging voltage has reached a charging level for programming the OTP memory responsive to the determined charging voltage.