Patent ID: 7532060

Claim:
A charge-pump device comprising a charge-pump circuit having an input connected to a supply line and receiving a supply voltage, and an output; said charge-pump circuit having at least one first elementary stage defining a first transfer node and a second transfer node that can be connected respectively to said input and to said output, and having at least a first phase input; said first elementary stage further comprising: a first switching element, arranged between said first transfer node and said second transfer node and having a control terminal receiving a control signal, said first switching element being closed during a charge-transfer interval; and first charge-storage means connected between said control terminal and said first phase input; wherein said first elementary stage further comprises a voltage-booster stage having an input connected to said first phase input of said first elementary stage, and an output, which is connected to said first charge-storage means and supplies a boosted phase signal; said voltage-booster stage being configured to be operative during said charge-transfer interval; wherein said voltage-booster stage comprises: a first inverter, having a first input connected to said first phase input and receiving a first phase signal, a second input connected to a boosted line, and an output connected to said first charge-storage means; and voltage-modifying means configured to vary the voltage of said boosted line; wherein said voltage-modifying means comprise: a first logic inverter having a first input receiving said phase signal, a second input receiving said supply voltage, and an output; third charge-storage means having a first terminal connected to the output of said first logic inverter, and a second terminal connected to said boosted line; and a unidirectional switching stage connected between said supply line and said boosted line; and wherein said unidirectional switching stage comprises: a second inverter having a first input receiving said first phase signal, a second input connected to said boosted line, and an output; and a third switching element having a first terminal connected to said supply line, a second terminal connected to said boosted line, and a control terminal connected to the output of said second inverter.