Patent ID: 7907116

Claim:
A drive system for a flat panel display having segment and common lines, the system comprising: a first charge pump comprising: an input terminal for receiving electric charge at an input voltage level; a first pump output terminal; and a circuit for generating a first pumped voltage level at the first pump output terminal; a first storage capacitor coupled to the first charge pump for storing electric charge at the first pumped voltage level; a second charge pump comprising: an input terminal coupled to the first pump output terminal and to the first storage capacitor for receiving electric charge at the first pumped voltage level; a second pump output terminal; and a circuit for generating a second pumped voltage level at the second pump output terminal; a second storage capacitor coupled to the second pump output terminal for storing electric charge at the second pumped voltage level; and a controller coupled to the first and second storage capacitors and comprising: segment and common output terminals respectively coupled to segment and common lines of an associated flat panel display; a plurality of switching devices coupled to the first and second storage capacitors; and a control circuit operating the switching devices to selectively connect the segment output terminal to the first and second storage capacitors so as to supply charge to the segment output terminal during a first phase and to return charge from the segment output terminal to the first storage capacitor during a second phase.