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.

Date of Patent:
Nov. 16, 2010

Filed:

Feb. 10, 2007
Applicants:

Christopher G. Arcus, San Jose, CA (US);

Vincent Tso, Milpitas, CA (US);

James Ho, San Jose, CA (US);

Inventors:

Christopher G. Arcus, San Jose, CA (US);

Vincent Tso, Milpitas, CA (US);

James Ho, San Jose, CA (US);

Assignee:

Exar Corporation, Fremont, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H03L 7/06 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A charge pump is configured to control current flow at an output node in response to input signals. A plurality of control signals are generated based upon the input signals. The control signals operate to control the timing and duration of current flows within the charge pump and to thereby reduce charge pump power consumption. Based upon the control signals, the conductivity of a first path between a power supply and the output node and a second path between the output node and a ground potential is varied. Optionally, the charge pump is disposed as part of a phase-locked loop (PLL), the input signals are produced by a phase/frequency detector, and current flow at the output node controls an oscillator element.


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