The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 06, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 15, 1998
Timothy M Lacey, San Jose, CA (US);
Aaron Yip, Miliptas, CA (US);
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention concerns an improved charge pump. The charge pump efficiently charges a voltage signal while reducing its power consumption. The charge pump includes at least one diode configured to receive a voltage signal. Coupled to the diode(s) is at least one capacitive device that is capable of coupling charge onto the diode(s). For one embodiment, the capacitive device provides a constant capacitance to more efficiently charge the voltage signal. The charge pump also includes an oscillating circuit that is capable of providing each capacitive device with an oscillating signal that alternates between a first voltage level and a second voltage level at a predetermined frequency. The oscillating circuit includes an odd number of N inverters coupled in a ring wherein an output of the Nth inverter is coupled to the input of the first inverter. For an alternative embodiment, each of the N inverters may anticipate a voltage switch on its inputs and therefore capable of powering 'off' before the voltage switch occurs. As such, unnecessary power consumption resulting from the short circuit current in each of the N inverters is substantially reduced or eliminated.