Patent ID: 6738273
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: H02M

Abstract:
A multi-stage charge pump circuit having a plurality of charge pump stages coupled in cascade to produce a multiplied output voltage that is a prescribed multiple of an input voltage, a respective charge pump stage comprising:at least one pumping capacitor; a plurality of switches connected to said at least one pumping capacitor; a controller for generating first and second sets of switch control signals for controlling said plurality of switches, so that said at least one pumping capacitor generates an increased output voltage that is a multiple of said input voltage, said first set of switch control signals being based upon said input voltage, and said second set of switch control signals being level-shifted from said first set of switch control signals; and a switch control signal recovery circuit that is operative to controllably clamp a signal transport path of a second switch control signal at a voltage approximately equal to the output voltage of a next lower order charge pump stage.