Cascaded Charge Pump Voltage Amplifier With Fewer Capacitors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voltage amplifiers for electronic devices often require a large number of capacitors, leading to inefficiencies in area usage and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and are power-intensive due to complex architectures, particularly when dealing with parasitic capacitances that degrade signal linearity.
Innovation Solution
A voltage amplifier system utilizing cascaded charge pump boosting with a differential amplifier and two capacitors, along with a set of switches, to achieve voltage amplification while reducing the number of capacitors needed and compensating for parasitic capacitances, thereby improving area efficiency and SNR.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of capacitors are used in voltage amplifier architecture, then voltage amplification can be achieved, but area usage efficiency deteriorates and signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple capacitor functions into a single capacitor by using a differential amplifier that can operate in different modes. The same capacitor serves multiple purposes in the cascaded charge pump architecture, eliminating the need for separate capacitors for each function and thereby improving area efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The differential amplifier is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as a charge pump in one mode and as a buffer or gain stage in another mode. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve voltage amplification without requiring dedicated capacitors for each operational mode, reducing the total number of capacitors needed.
2Measurement precision
If complex amplifier architecture is used to achieve voltage amplification, then amplification accuracy can be improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The differential amplifier dynamically switches between different operational modes (charge pump mode, buffer mode, gain stage) based on the circuit state. This dynamic operation allows the amplifier to achieve high accuracy when needed while consuming less power during other phases, avoiding the continuous high power consumption of complex static architectures.
Solution Approach 2:
The cascaded charge pump operates in periodic cycles, charging the capacitor during one phase and transferring/discharging during another phase. This periodic action allows the amplifier to build up voltage gain over multiple cycles rather than requiring a complex high-power continuous architecture, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining amplification accuracy.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional voltage amplifier design is used, then voltage amplification can be achieved, but parasitic capacitances degrade signal linearity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of parasitic capacitances into a beneficial effect by using them as part of the charge pump mechanism. The parasitic capacitances are incorporated into the charging and discharging cycles, where they assist in the voltage boosting process rather than degrading signal linearity, thereby eliminating their harmful impact.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables accurate voltage amplification with reduced power consumption and improved signal linearity, allowing for efficient processing of amplified signals in electronic devices such as memory systems and other electronic systems.
Implementation Method 1
storing, by a first capacitor, first electrical charges corresponding to the input voltage to obtain a second voltage
Implementation Method 2
amplifying the second voltage according to the first electrical charges stored by the first capacitor to obtain a third voltage
Implementation Method 3
storing, by a second capacitor, second electrical charges corresponding to the third voltage
Implementation Method 4
amplifying the third voltage according to the second electrical charges stored by the second capacitor to obtain a fourth voltage
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are related to a system and a method of amplifying an input voltage based on cascaded charge pump boosting. In one aspect, first electrical charges are stored at a first capacitor according to the input voltage to obtain a second voltage. In one aspect, the second voltage is amplified according to the first electrical charges stored by the first capacitor to obtain a third voltage. In one aspect, second electrical charges are stored at the second capacitor according to the third voltage. In one aspect, the third voltage is amplified according to the second electrical charges stored by the second capacitor to obtain a fourth voltage.