Patent ID: 7532061
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: G11C,H02M

Abstract:
1. A voltage-boosting device, comprising: a supply input configured to receive a supply voltage; a high-voltage output configured to output an output voltage; a plurality of sets of charge-pump stages series-connected between said supply input and said high-voltage output, each set of charge-pump stages having a plurality of charge-pump stages and a respective enabling input receiving a respective one of plural enabling signals, such that the charge-pump stages of the set are coupled to, and controlled by, the same enabling signal, and each set of charge-pump stages is activated by the respective enabling signal independently of the other sets of the plurality of sets; and a control circuit coupled to said high-voltage output and configured to generate said enabling signals, said control circuit including a plurality of comparators coupled to said high-voltage output, each of the comparators receiving a respective one of a plurality of reference voltages, said comparators each configured to generate a respective one of the enabling signals for said sets of charge-pump stages, each set of charge-pump stages being coupled respectively to a respective comparator of the comparators; wherein each set of stages comprises: wherein each enabling circuit comprises a latch arranged between said respective switch element and the charge-pump stages of the set that includes the enabling circuit.