Patent ID: 7248096

Claim:
A two-phase charge pump capable of being controlled by first and second clock signals that are in phase-opposition, the charge pump comprising: a plurality of cascade-connected stages, each of the stages including: a capacitive element driven by one of the clock signals such that the capacitive elements of adjacent stages are driven by different clock signals; a pass transistor coupled to the capacitive element of the stage, the pass transistor selectively transferring electric charge to the capacitive element of the stage from the capacitive element of a previous stage; a first biasing circuit enabling the pass transistor of the stage during a first phase of the one clock signal, the first biasing circuit coupling the one clock signal to the pass transistor, the first biasing circuit being active during an entire semi-period in which the pass transistor is conductive, and the first biasing circuit supplying the one clock signal directly to a gate of the pass transistor so as to directly bias the gate of the pass transistor; and a second biasing circuit disabling the pass transistor of the stage during a second phase of the one clock signal.