Em Microelectronic-marin Sa

Mathieu Coustans

Mario Dellea

Yves Theoduloz

Lubomir Plavec

Yves Godat

Jerome Saby

Cyril Marti

Jérôme Saby

Luca Rossi

The invention relates to a DC-DC converter () for a power source () generating extremely low voltage, the converter () operating in discontinuous mode, wherein the converter () comprises a self-oscillating charge pump () having an array of interconnected ring oscillators (RO-RON) for successively stepping up an input voltage (Vin) so as to result in the accumulated voltage (XN) at the last ring oscillator (RON), an amplifier () and a pulse signal generator () that generates a pulse signal that actuates a switch () so that the stepped-up, output voltage may be provided via a diode (). The invention further relates to a method for actuating the DC-DC converter () for a power source () generating extremely low voltage.

DC-DC converter for a low voltage power source

The elementary pumping cell comprises an input (E) receiving an input voltage (Vin), a clock terminal (H) receiving a first clock signal (CK) and an output (S), a first capacitor (C) having a first terminal connected to the clock terminal and a second terminal, a first transistor (A) having a first source/drain terminal coupled to the input, a second source/drain terminal and a gate terminal, a second transistor (A) having a first source/drain terminal, a second source/drain terminal coupled to the input and a gate terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor, a third transistor (A) having a first source/drain terminal coupled to the first source/drain terminal of the second transistor, a second source/drain terminal coupled to the gate terminal of the second transistor and a gate terminal coupled to the input, and a fourth transistor (A) having a first source/drain terminal coupled to the second source/drain terminal of the first transistor, a second source/drain terminal coupled to the first source/drain terminal of the second and third transistors and a gate terminal coupled to the input. The gate terminal of the first transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the second transistor.

Elementary cell and charge pumps comprising such an elementary cell

The self-polarised quartz oscillator circuit comprises an amplifier with an output which is connected to a first electrode of the quartz and an input which is connected to a second electrode of the quartz, an output capacitor which is connected to the first electrode of the quartz and an input capacitor which is connected to the second electrode of the quartz. The amplifier is polarised by a current through a MOS polarisation transistor, which is generated in an amplitude regulation assembly which comprises also an amplitude regulation stage. The second electrode of the quartz is connected to the gate of the polarisation transistor and to the amplitude regulation stage in order to modulate the polarisation current and to regulate the oscillation amplitude of the quartz.

Self-polarised quartz oscillator circuit

Growing community of inventors

Aarau, Switzerland

Mathieu Coustans