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:
Oct. 03, 2006
Filed:
Aug. 06, 2003
Xin Guo, Mountain View, CA (US);
Xin Guo, Mountain View, CA (US);
Spansion LLC, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A low power charge pump is disclosed. A pump driving node of a first pump stage is selectively coupled to a pump driving node of the subsequent pump stage. Subsequent to a transfer of charge from a first pump stage to a subsequent stage, the first and subsequent pump driving nodes are coupled. Residual charge on a first stage pump driving node is thereby transferred to a subsequent pump driving node. Subsequent to the transfer of charge from the first pump driving node to the second pump driving node, the nodes are uncoupled. By selectively coupling a first pump stage to a pump driving node of the subsequent pump stage, the first pump driving node may pre-charge the subsequent pump driving node, thereby reducing the energy that must be provided by clock driving circuitry to produce a positive-going transition of a driving clock. Advantageously, pre-charging energy is taken from the first stage, reducing the energy that was heretofore dissipated by clock driving circuitry during a negative-going clock signal transition. In this novel manner conversion efficiency of a charge pump device may be beneficially increased, providing enhanced low power performance.