Patent ID: 7729141

Claim:
A voltage tripler circuit comprising: a plurality of switches; and first, second, and third capacitors each having first and second terminals that are selectively interconnected via the plurality of switches during first, second, and third phases, wherein: during the first phase, the plurality of switches connects the first and second terminals of the first capacitor to a supply voltage and a common potential, respectively, wherein the first capacitor charges to the supply voltage; during the second phase that follows the first phase, the plurality of switches: disconnects the first and second terminals of the first capacitor from the supply voltage and the common potential, respectively, and connects the second terminal of the first capacitor to the supply voltage, the first terminal of the first capacitor to the first terminal of the second capacitor, and the second terminal of the second capacitor to the common potential, wherein the second capacitor charges to two times the supply voltage; and during the third phase that follows the second phase, the plurality of switches: disconnects the second terminal of the first capacitor from the supply voltage, the first terminal of the first capacitor from the first terminal of the second capacitor, and the second terminal of the second capacitor from the common potential, and connects the second terminal of the second capacitor to the supply voltage, the first terminal of the second capacitor to an output, and the first and second terminals of the third capacitor to the output and the common potential, respectively, wherein an output voltage at the output is three times the supply voltage.