Patent ID: 6985024

Claim:
A voltage multiplier comprising a plurality of successive stages including a first stage and at least one successive stage, each stage including: an input terminal for receiving an input voltage and an output terminal for outputting an output voltage, the input terminal of the first stage connectable to a voltage source, the input terminal of each successive stage coupled to the output terminal of its immediately preceding stage for receiving an output voltage produced by its immediately preceding stage; a capacitive circuit having first and second terminals of opposite polarities; a first switch coupled to said first terminal for selectively coupling said first terminal to one of said input terminal and said output terminal; and a second switch coupled to said second terminal for selectively coupling said second terminal to one of a common terminal and said input terminal, wherein the first and second switches of each stage are controllable to alternate between a charging state in which said first terminal is coupled to said input terminal and said second terminal is coupled to said common terminal and an output state in which said first terminal is coupled to said output terminal and said second terminal is coupled to said input terminal, wherein the first and second switches of the first stage are controlled at a first switching frequency and the first and second switches of each successive stage are controlled at approximately half the switching frequency of its immediately preceding stage.