Patent ID: 6208196
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: H02M

Abstract:
A charge pump comprising:first and second power supply lines;a current source coupled to the first power supply line;first and second fly capacitors;first and second transistors forming a differential pair, each of the first and second transistors being coupled to the current source and a respective one of the first and second fly capacitors at first and second nodes respectively, the first and second transistors alternately steering the current source current to the first and second fly capacitors;first and second rectifying devices coupled to the first and second fly capacitors at third and fourth nodes, and to the second power supply line, respectively, the first and second rectifying devices allowing current flow in a direction to charge the fly capacitors by a voltage difference between the first and second power supply lines and blocking current flow in the opposite direction;third and fourth rectifying devices coupling the third and fourth nodes to a charge pump output line, respectively, the third and fourth rectifying devices allowing current flow in a direction to discharge the fly capacitors by a voltage difference between the second power supply line and the charge pump output line and blocking current flow in the opposite direction; and,third and fourth transistors coupled between the first and second nodes and the second power supply line, the third and fourth transistors coupling the first and second nodes to the second power supply line when the second and first transistors couple the current source to the second and first fly capacitors, respectively.