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:
Aug. 14, 2007
Filed:
Jan. 03, 2005
Carmelo Ucciardello, Catania, IT;
Rosa Di Mauro, Catania, IT;
Domenico Pappalardo, Gravina di Catania, IT;
Francesco Sorrentino, Cantania, IT;
Giuseppe Maganuco, Acate, IT;
Gaetano Palumbo, Catania, IT;
Carmelo Ucciardello, Catania, IT;
Rosa Di Mauro, Catania, IT;
Domenico Pappalardo, Gravina di Catania, IT;
Francesco Sorrentino, Cantania, IT;
Giuseppe Maganuco, Acate, IT;
Gaetano Palumbo, Catania, IT;
STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
Protecting the devices of a charge pump includes the connection of a high-voltage transistor between the output node of the charge pump and the load being supplied, and in controlling this transistor with a fraction of the output voltage of the charge pump. This control is accomplished by connecting the control node of the high-voltage transistor to a node of connection between two stages of the multi-stage charge pump onto which a fraction of the controlled output voltage of the multi-stage charge pump is produced. The high-voltage output transistor protects the low voltage devices of the multi-stage charge pump, by preventing the controlled output voltage from undergoing excessively abrupt variations, that could damage the transistors of the last stage of the charge pump.