Abstract:
A method and apparatus are provided for improving the efficiency in charge pump systems for low power applications. This first embodiment provides a method and apparatus which defines a charge pump output voltage high target which turns off a charge pump enable signal and a charge pump outlet voltage low target which turns on a charge pump enable signal. A second embodiment defines a protection time where the charge pumping continues until a predefined phase is completed and the leakage paths are disabled. A third embodiment defines a phase memory block, which continues or remembers the phase until the next request for charge pumping. This prevents the circuitry from entering a window where charge leakage, which diminishes charge pumping efficiency, could occur.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention generally relates to charge pumping circuitry. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving the efficiency in charge pump systems for low power applications.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     The major components of low power charge pumping system are shown in  FIG. 1   a.  The components are a level detector  110 , a ring oscillator  120 , and a charge pump  130 . When the charge pump  130  drives the output voltage, VPP,  150  above the target voltage, the level detector  110  would disable both the charge pump  130  and ring oscillator  120  to save power. The power dissipation of the circuit driven by the charge pump circuit, which drives node VPP, is consumed during normal operation. When the VPP voltage drops below the target level, the level detector  110  would enable the ring oscillator  120  and the charge pump circuit  130 . Once again, the charge pumping system would restart to drive the VPP node until its voltage level goes above the target level again.  
         [0005]      FIG. 1   b  shows a timing diagram of the operation of the charge pumping system of  FIG. 1   a.  As shown in  FIG. 1   b,  when VPP&#39;s level is below the target level, the signal ENVPP, which is driven by the level detector goes high. When ENVPP goes high the ring oscillator and charge pump are activated. When VPP is driven to a level, which is above the target level, the ENVPP signal goes low. When ENVPP goes low, the charge pumping system would disable the pumping process in whatever phase (T 1  or T 2 ) the charge pumping circuit is in, and the charge pump would go into T 1  (off) state directly. A VPP leakage path would occur, if the charge pump stops in the middle of the phase T 2  cycle.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2   a  is a device level description of the leakage path, while  FIG. 2   b  illustrates the same leakage path using switches instead of devices.  FIG. 2   a  has device MN 1  representing the switch SW 1  shown in  FIG. 2   b.  Also,  FIG. 2   a  has device MN 2  representing the switch SW 2  shown in  FIG. 2   b.  This leakage path occurs for the following reason. During phase T 2  as shown in  FIGS. 2   a,    2   b  and  2   c,  switch SW 2  is ON and node N 3  stays in a higher voltage (&gt;VPP). If we force the charge pump circuit to go back into phase T 1  at the midpoint of phase T 2 , the BST (booster) and N 3  nodes would transit to a low level simultaneously. This would produce a leakage path during this phase transition window as shown in  FIG. 3 . Before BST transits to VSS low level, SW 2  is not turned OFF first. Therefore, during the BST transition, a VPP leakage would be generated from node VPP to Node N 1  through SW 2 . This VPP leakage path would occur frequently whenever the level detector stops the charge pump operation as shown in  FIG. 1   b.  A worst case may occur as in  FIG. 2   d.    
         [0007]      FIG. 2   d  shows that when VPP is a small amount below the VPP target level, the signal ENVPP would start the charge pump. When the charge pump operates at first T 2  cycle, the VPP level would be boosted to above the VPP target and the level detector would disable the charge pump at midway of the T 2  cycle. This stop action would enable some VPP power leakage to occur. This would drop the VPP level to a little below the VPP target level. Then, the level detector would restart the pump process again. This repeated changing of phases greatly increases the opportunity for leakage current. Therefore, the efficiency of the whole pumping system would be degraded severely. 
        U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,434 (Hsu, et at.) describes a dynamic clamp which is used in conjunction with capacitors with thinner dielectric or with deep trench capacitors to solve the problem of dielectric breakdown in high stress capacitors. The dynamic clamp is built using a two stage pump operation cycle such that, during a first stage pump cycle, a middle node of a pair of series connected capacitors is pre-charged to a supply voltage and, during a second stage pump cycle, the middle node is coupled by a boost clock. Thus, at any moment in the pump operation cycle, the voltage across the capacitors is held within a safety range.     U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,052 (Myono) discloses a charge pump circuit of the Dickson type, which circuit is characterized by dock drivers CD1 and CD2 for supplying clock pulses to coupling capacitors C1-C3. In other words, it is arranged in such a manner that the rising time and falling time of the dock pulses CLK and CLKB are extended to the extent that the outputs from the dock drivers CD1 and CD2 will not cause resonance.     U.S. Pat. No. 6,469,571 (Esterl, et al.) describes a charge pump which has two inputs, an input dock signal and an output for the output of a pumped output potential. Two pumping capacitors are connected to the inputs. Second electrodes of the pumping capacitors are in each case connected via a first circuit module to a supply potential (ground) and via a second circuit module to the output. In addition, there is a controllable short-circuiting element, the controllable path of which is disposed between the second electrodes of the two pumping capacitors.          
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for improving the efficiency of charge pumping systems in low power applications.  
         [0012]     The objects of this invention are achieved by identifying leakage current which occurs during charge pumping action, defining a charge pump output voltage high target, defining a charge pump outlet voltage low target, defining a charge pump enable signal which activates a charge pumping, action, and defining a charge pump output voltage. The method specifies if the charge pump voltage goes below the specified charge pump output voltage low target, the charge pump enable signal activates. The method also specifies if the charge pump voltage goes above the specified charge pump output voltage high target, the charge pump enable signal deactivates. The method controls the charge pump efficiency by varying the charge pump output voltage high target and the charge pump output voltage low target  
         [0013]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1   a  is a prior art charge pumping system block diagram.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1   b  shows a prior art charge pumping system timing diagram.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2   a  shows a prior art device level charge pump circuit.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2   b  shows a prior art switch level charge pump circuit.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2   c  shows a more detailed prior art charge pumping system timing diagram.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2   d  shows a worst case prior art charge pumping system timing diagram.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows another more detailed prior art charge pumping system timing diagram.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4   a  shows a timing diagram for the first embodiment of this invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4   b  illustrates the prior art transition of the charge pump enable signal.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4   c  illustrates the first embodiment of this invention transition of the charge pump enable signal.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4   d  shows a comparison of the charge pump enable signal in the prior art versus the first embodiment of this invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5   a  shows a block diagram for the second embodiment of this invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5   b  shows a timing diagram for the second embodiment of this invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5   c  shows a more detailed timing diagram for the second embodiment of this invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 6   a  shows a block diagram for the third embodiment of this invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6   b  shows a timing diagram for the third embodiment of this invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0030]     Different charge pumping circuit designs have different pumping efficiency. For example, a 25% pumping efficiency means that we need 4 units of external power (ie. VDD) to get 1 unit of pumped power (ie. VPP). It is very important to improve charge pumping efficiency for low power circuit design. The objective of the embodiments of this invention is to reduce leakage current which will reduce external VDD power consumed. This in turn will increase charge pumping efficiency.  
         [0031]     As previously presented above,  FIG. 2   a  shows a basic charge pumping circuit.  FIG. 2   a  shows a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) charge pump. N-channel MOSFET device MN 1  ( 195 ) has its drain attached to the VDD ( 120 ) power supply, its gate attached to signal N 2  ( 190 ) and its source attached to node N 1  and to one node of capacitor CB ( 170 ). The other node of CB is attached to a booster signal, BST ( 180 ). N-channel device MN 2  ( 130 ) has its drain attached to node N 1 , its gate attached to signal N 3  ( 150 ) and its source attached to the charge pump output VPP ( 110 ). One side of capacitor CP, is attached to VPP and the other node of CP ( 160 ) is attached to VSS. The simplified diagram of this charge pump is drawn in  FIG. 2   b  switches SW 1  and SW 2  replace devices MN 1  and MN 2 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 2   c  shows the transition from phase T 2  to phase T 1 . It shows the node N 3  voltage falling  141 . This node has two slopes which cross at the Vpp(av) level shown.  FIG. 2   c  also shows the transition from phase T 1  to phase T 2 . It shows the node N 3  voltage rising  161 . This rising voltage  161  has two slopes which cross at the VDD level.  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  identifies six phases of operation which explain the charge pumping and VPP leakage mechanisms at work in this invention. An explanation of the 6 phases follows. If the charge pumping process is stopped, the pumping circuit would go back to phase T 1  and stay on phase T 1  and force N 2  to stays low. The internal voltage levels of charge pump (ex. N 1 , N 3 ) during T 1  are smaller than those of during T 2  except N 2 , so there is less device reliability problem during T 1 . Therefore when the charge pump is stopped, we prefer it to stay T 1  and force N 2  to stay low. Therefore generally the time of inactivated charge pump in much longer than that of activated charge pump in the application, waveforms are current-some of following description may not be completely clear. If we want to restart the pumping process, the pumping circuit would start from phase T 1  (off) and force N 2  to high first, then partial T 1 EE (T 1 -T 2 EF-T 2 EE-T 2 -T 1 EF-T 1 EE-T 1  and so on). If so, refer to waveforms.  
         [0034]     The first phase, T 1 EF, is when N 3  transits from 2×VDD to VPP (av)  311 . SW 2  turns off at end of T 1 EF, N 2  stays VDD-VT, SW 1  stays turned off, BST stays VDD, and N 1  stays VPP (av).  
         [0035]     The second phase, T 1 EE, is when N 3  transits from VPP (av) to VPP (av)-VDD. SW 2  stays turning off, N 2  transits from VDD-VT to 2×VDD-VT, SW 1  turns on at end of 2 nd  phase; BST transits from VDD to VSS, and N 1  is coupled from VPP (av) down to VPP(av)-VDD.  
         [0036]     The third phase, T 1 , is when N 3  stays VPP (av)-VDD, SW 2  stays turned off, N 2  stays 2×VDD-VT, SW 1  stays turned on, BST stays VSS, and N 1  is precharged from VPP(av)-VDD to VDD by through SW 1 .  
         [0037]     The fourth phase, T 2 EF, is when N 3  transits from VPP (av)-VDD to VDD  321 , SW 2  stays turning off, N 2  transits from 2×VDD-VT to VDD-VT, SW 1  turns off at end of phase, BST stays VSS, N 1  is stops precharging, and N 1  stays at VDD.  
         [0038]     The fifth phase, T 2 EE, is when N 3  transits from VDD to 2×VDD, SW 2  at end turns on, N 2  stays VDD-VT, SW 1  stays turning off, BST transits from VSS to VDD, and N 1  is boosted from VDD to 2×VDD.  
         [0039]     The sixth phase, T 2 , is when N 3  stays 2×VDD, SW 2  stays turning on, N 2  stays VDD-VT, SW 1  stays turning off BST stays VDD, and N 1  is discharged from 2×VDD to VPP(av) by through SW 2 .  
         [0040]     During T 2 , there would be a charge sharing between node N 1  and VPP, i.e., the charge stored on capacitor CB would drift to capacitor CP until both CB&#39;s voltage level and CP&#39;s voltage level are equal to VPP(av). (Capacitor CP&gt;&gt;Capacitor CB due to loading).  
         [0041]     During the first 5 phases, the circuit always consumes VDD, (either during transitions of all signals, or during precharge, ie. during 3 rd  phase T 1 ), due to current flow through MN 1  to charge up CB. During 6 th  phase, VDD is not consumed since just transferring charge from CB to CP.  
       Efficiency   =           Gross   ⁢           ⁢   VPP   ⁢           ⁢   driven       (     occurs   ⁢           ⁢   during   ⁢           ⁢     6   th     ⁢   phase     )       -       VPP   ⁢             ⁢             ⁢   leakage       (     occurs   ⁢           ⁢   during   ⁢           ⁢   the   ⁢           ⁢   stopping   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   charge   ⁢           ⁢   pumping   ⁢     
     ⁢   action   ⁢           ⁢   at   ⁢           ⁢   T   ⁢           ⁢   2   ⁢           ⁢   phase   ⁢           ⁢   without   ⁢           ⁢   protection     )             VDD   ⁢           ⁢   consumed       (     occurs   ⁢           ⁢   during   ⁢           ⁢     1   st     ⁢   5   ⁢           ⁢   phases     )             
         Efficiency   =       Net   ⁢           ⁢   VPP   ⁢           ⁢   driven       VDD   ⁢           ⁢   consumed         ⁢               
 
         [0042]     By using the first embodiment, the opportunity of VPP leakage would be reduced (see  FIG. 4   d ), and the average VPP leakage current of the first embodiment would be smaller than that of the prior art. The net VPP current driven of the first embodiment would be larger than that of the prior art. Thus, the pump efficiency of the first embodiment would be higher than that of the prior art. By using the second embodiment or the third embodiment, there is no VPP leakage current during the pumping action. Thus, the pump efficiency of the second or the third embodiment is higher than that of the prior art.  
         [0043]      FIG. 4   a  shows a timing diagram of the first embodiment of this invention.  FIG. 4   a  avoids the worst current leakage condition of  FIG. 2   d.    FIG. 4   a  shows two VPP targets being defined. There is a VPP target (hi) and a VPP target (low). The ENVPP signal does not go High until the VPP level drops below the VPP target (Low) level. Once the ENVPP signal goes High, it will not go low until the VPP level is boosted above the VPP target (Hi) level as shown in  FIG. 4   a.  Therefore, the VPP pumping system does not activate until the VPP signal drops below the VPP target (Low) level. But once the pumping system is activated, it would not stop until VPP is larger than VPP target (Hi). The percentage of leakage VPP current during the stopping of the T 2  phase versus the pumped VPP current can be controlled to a small value by the first embodiment of this invention. Besides this scheme can save the warm up power (1 st  5 phases) of the pumping circuit and the power of the last T 2  phase. Therefore the last T 2 &#39;s phase N 1  charge is not completely transferred to VPP. The leakage problem occurs when the ENVPP signal falls. In this first embodiment, the frequency of the falling of ENVPP is less than in the prior art, which is shown in  FIG. 4   d.    
         [0044]      FIG. 4   b  shows how the ENVPP signal goes both high and low at the prior art Vpp target level.  FIG. 4   c  shows how the ENVPP signal goes high at the Vpp target(low) voltage and goes low at the Vpp target (high) level. This aspect of the first embodiment results in the waveform of  FIG. 4   d  where in the prior art the ENVPP signal would go active, inactive, then active again. Whereas the proposed embodiment 1, maintains ENVPP active throughout due to the settings of Vpp target (low) and Vpp target (high).  
         [0045]      FIGS. 5   a,    5   b,  and  5   c  shows the second embodiment of this invention. A protection time idea is included in this embodiment as shown in  FIG. 5   b  and  FIG. 5   c.  Whenever the Vpp level is boosted above the VPP target level, the pumping action does not stop until the phases T 2 , T 1 EF and partial T 1 EE 1  are completed as shown in  FIG. 5   c.  But during the partial T 1 EE 1  phase, node N 2  is not coupled to high as in the normal phase T 1 EE shown in  FIG. 5   c.  The extension of pumping time is designed to protect the VPP leakage when phases T 2 , T 1 EF and partial T 1 EE 1  are not executed completely. Therefore, there is no VPP leakage problem in the whole operation of the pumping system. The pumping efficiency of the whole system can be optimized using this second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0046]     As can be seen from  FIG. 5   c,  during the normal T 1 EE phase, N 2  transits from VDD-VT to 2×VDD-VT. N 3  transits from VPP(av) to VPP (av)-VDD and BST transits from VDD to VSS. In addition,  FIG. 5   c  shows that during the partial T 1 EE 1  phase, node N 2  stays at VDD-VT, node N 3  transits from VPP(av) to VPP(av)-VDD, and node BST transits from VDD to VSS.  FIG. 5   c  also shows that during T 1  (off) phase, node N 2  stays at VDD-VT, node N 3  stays at VPP(av)-VDD, node BST stays at VSS and that during normal T 1  phase, node N 2  stays at 2×VDD-VT, node N 3  stays at VPP(av)-VDD, node BST stays at VSS.  FIG. 5   c  also shows that during the partial T 1 EE 2  phase, node N 2  transits from VDD-VT to 2×VDD-VT, node N 3  stays at VPP(av)-VDD, and node BST stays at VSS. This second embodiment has two advantages. It avoids VPP leakage, and it completely transfers the boosted charge on capacitor CB to capacitor CP.  
         [0047]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  show the third embodiment of this invention. The purpose of the block diagram of  FIG. 6   a  is to avoid the leakage problem. As shown in  FIG. 6   a,  a phase memory block is added to the similar block diagram of prior art  FIG. 1   a.  Whenever VPP level is boosted to above VPP target level, the level detector would stop both the charge pump and ring oscillator immediately as in the prior art, but the charge pump&#39;s phase, which is encountered at the stopping time would not be lost and not be transited to phase T 1  (off), as shown in  FIG. 6   b.  The “memoried” phase would not be changed until the next pumping action is executed as shown in  FIG. 6   b.  Therefore, there is no VPP leakage problem, which occurs during the stopping time of the charge pump circuit. The efficiency of the whole pumping system would be improved when the charge pump circuit is stopped. Generally the stay time of the stopped charge pump is much longer than that of activated charge pump in the application. This scheme has a drawback, because the charge pump may stay in phase T 2 . The internal voltage of the charge pump circuit may stay at a higher voltage when the charge pump stops at phase T 2 . Device reliability may become a concern, due to the oxide stress at the MN 1  and MN 2  devices shown in  FIG. 2   a.  If oxide reliability is not a problem, this third embodiment of the invention is a very good solution to the VPP leakage problem.  
         [0048]     The advantage of the first embodiment of this invention is the ability to control the efficiency of the charge pumping system by adjusting the target high and target low voltages via the level detecting circuitry to limit and control the amount of leakage current. The advantage of the second embodiment is that due to the protected time shown in  FIG. 5   b,  there is no VPP leakage problem in the operation of the pumping system. The advantage of the third embodiment is that it is possible to completely eliminate the leakage current by controlling the phases of the charging pumping operation. There is no leakage during the stopping time for the third embodiment. However, embodiment 3 requires that the devices stay in a higher more stressful voltage state for an extended period. However, if the devices can handle the voltage, the 3 rd  embodiment offers an excellent solution to the charge pump efficiency problem.  
         [0049]     While the invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.