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. 04, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 31, 2009
Swee Kiat Yap, Singapore, SG;
Olivier Le-briz, Saint-Gervais, FR;
Sze-kwang Tan, Singapore, SG;
STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Singapore, SG;
STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, Grenoble, FR;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for generating multiple voltage level outputs from a single series of charge pump stages. The apparatus includes a plurality of voltage output circuits electrically connected in series. A selected number of the voltage output circuits include voltage output nodes that are available to be connected to loads. A control component in each voltage output circuit regulates operation of the charge pump stages within that circuit to provide a voltage level at the voltage output node regulated independently of other voltage output circuits in the series. The method and apparatus has the advantage of reducing the number of charge pump stages required to achieve a plurality of different voltage output levels. In another embodiment, the method and apparatus recycles charge within the apparatus by transferring charge between voltage output circuits through a load.