Patent ID: 7317303

Claim:
A power supply for creating a voltage difference between high and low power supply rails, the power supply comprising: a voltage signal source; a capacitive coupling element connected to the voltage signal source; an energy storage element for storing energy between the high and low power supply rails; first and second rectifying diodes, the first rectifying diode positioned between the capacitive coupling element and the energy storage element, coupled to the voltage signal source through the capacitive coupling element, arranged to favor current flow toward the energy storage element from the capacitive coupling element, the second rectifying diode positioned between the capacitive coupling element and the low power supply rail, coupled to the voltage signal source through the capacitive coupling element, arranged to favor current flow toward the capacitive coupling element from the low power supply rail; regulator means for regulating the level of energy stored in the energy storage element; bypass means, responsive to the regulator means, for selectively decreasing the impedance between the voltage signal source and the low power supply rail.