Charge Pump Capacitive Divider Feedback Loop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional charge pump systems face challenges in achieving efficient and precise voltage control due to high DC current consumption and instability issues, particularly with conventional voltage dividers that consume energy and introduce ripples and errors in voltage changes.
Innovation Solution
A charge pump arrangement utilizing a complete discrete-time system with a capacitive divider, where the control loop is clocked with the pump input clock, reducing DC current consumption and incorporating a tunable switch-capacitive divider with an offset compensation mechanism to minimize errors and area consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional voltage dividers are used for feedback, then voltage control is achieved, but DC current consumption increases and ripples/errors are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional resistive voltage divider with a capacitive voltage divider. This substitution eliminates DC current consumption through the divider while maintaining AC signal feedback capability. The capacitive divider only draws current during switching transitions, dramatically reducing average DC current consumption while preserving voltage control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the voltage divider from resistive to capacitive. By using capacitors instead of resistors, the system transforms from a DC-current-consuming configuration to one that primarily consumes current during transient switching events. This parameter change enables both low DC current consumption and reduced output ripples.
2Measurement precision
If conventional voltage dividers are used for feedback, then voltage control is achieved, but output ripples and load/voltage change errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The replacement of resistive elements with capacitive elements in the voltage divider eliminates the continuous DC current path that causes output ripples. The capacitive divider only exchanges charge during switching transitions, significantly reducing output voltage ripples and improving control precision under varying load conditions.
3Measurement precision
If a control loop is added to control output voltage, then voltage precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive voltage divider simplifies the control loop by eliminating the need for high-precision resistors and complex compensation circuits. The inherent properties of capacitors (blocking DC, passing AC) provide natural filtering and signal coupling, reducing the overall circuit complexity while maintaining precise voltage control.
4Loss of energy
If charge pump operates with high efficiency, then energy loss is reduced, but voltage control stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive voltage divider provides stable feedback signals to the control loop without introducing the DC current consumption and thermal drift issues associated with resistive dividers. This enables the charge pump to operate at high efficiency while maintaining voltage control stability through accurate feedback.
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
This approach minimizes output ripples and load/voltage change errors, provides a high bandwidth control loop with minimal current consumption, and eliminates the need for resistances in the circuit, allowing for scalable performance and reduced area usage.
Implementation Method 1
the feedback path includes a capacitive divider circuit, the capacitive divider circuit including a first capacitor and a second capacitor coupled in series between a first node and a third node, wherein a second feedback signal is provided as an output of the capacitive divider circuit at a second node between the first capacitor and the second capacitor
Data Source
AI summary
A charge pump arrangement and methods for operating a charge pump arrangement are disclosed. According to various embodiments, a charge pump arrangement may include: a charge pump circuit configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage based on a pump clock signal; a feedback path configured to provide a feedback signal representing the output voltage of the charge pump circuit; and a control circuit configured to receive a clock signal and to control the output voltage of the charge pump circuit by controlling the pump clock signal based on the feedback signal and the clock signal.