Apparatus for translating a voltage

Abstract

A low voltage current source generates low voltage signals for powering a variable frequency oscillator. The low voltage signals are at a slightly higher voltage until a negative substrate bias is achieved. The oscillator operates at a low frequency for low power consumption when no charge pumping is needed and at a higher frequency when charge pumping is in fact needed or when charge pumping will most likely be needed. The variable frequency oscillator controls a timing signal generator which generates the timing signals used to control the overall operation of the charge pump system. Voltage translation circuitry translates the low voltage current source signals into higher voltage signals which are used to translate the substrate voltage from its negative value to a positive value so that the substrate voltage may be compared to a reference voltage using a conventional comparator. When the substrate voltage is above the desired level, the comparator generates a pump activating signals to a pump signal generator which, in turn, generates the necessary signal to cause the charge pump to operate.