Patent ID: 7688052
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: H02M

Abstract:
1. A charge pump circuit comprising: a first capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal; a first input configured for coupling to a common node that is between first and second power switches that are coupled in a stacked configuration wherein an inductor is coupled to the common node, the first input configured to receive a first voltage from the common node; a second input configured to receive a second voltage from a second capacitor wherein the second voltage is greater than the first voltage, the second capacitor having a first terminal for coupling to the first input and a second terminal for coupling to the second input; a current source having a first terminal and a second terminal; a first circuit configured to charge the first capacitor from the first voltage and provide a first current from the first input to the first capacitor and to the current source responsively to the first capacitor having a voltage that is less than a third voltage wherein the third voltage is less than the first voltage; and a second circuit configured to couple the first capacitor to the second voltage at the second input and transfer charge from the first capacitor to the second capacitor responsively to the voltage of the first capacitor being at least equal to the third voltage.