Patent ID: 6861894
Filing Date: 2005-03-01
Classification: H02M

Abstract:
1. A charge pump, comprising: a first plurality of voltage stages, wherein each voltage stage includes a capacitor, the voltages stages being configured to charge the capacitors and serially couple the capacitors such that the capacitor in a first voltage stage has its positive terminal coupled to a negative terminal of the capacitor in a second voltage stage, and so on, and wherein the capacitors are charged and serially coupled such that, when serially coupled and for an integer k greater than 1, the voltage across the capacitor in the kth voltage stage is substantially equal to the voltage at its negative terminal plus the voltage across the capacitor in the (k−1)th voltage stage, and a second plurality of voltage stages, wherein within the second plurality of voltage stages each voltage stage includes a capacitor, these voltage stages being configured to charge the capacitors and serially couple the charged capacitors such that the capacitor in a first voltage stage has its positive terminal coupled to a negative terminal of the capacitor in a second voltage stage, and so on, and wherein the capacitors are charged and serially coupled such that, when serially coupled and for an integer m greater than 1, the voltage across the capacitor in the mth voltage stage is substantially equal to the voltage at its negative terminal plus the voltage across the capacitor in the (m−1)th voltage stage.