Charge Pump Capacitive Regulation Without Refresh Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charge pumps face issues with current consumption and output ripple due to junction leakage and sub-threshold leakage in capacitive regulation, requiring periodic refreshment of capacitors to maintain charge conservation, which interrupts operation and wastes power.
Innovation Solution
A charge pump circuit system with regulation circuitry including a comparator, multiplex circuit, feedback networks, and control circuitry that alternates between active and reset modes for capacitive dividers to maintain continuous operation without interruption, using a multiplex circuit to switch feedback levels and control signals to manage capacitor reset periods based on leakage calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If capacitive regulation is used in charge pumps, then output voltage control is achieved, but junction leakage and sub-threshold leakage require periodic capacitor refreshment which interrupts operation and wastes power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single capacitive divider into two separate capacitive dividers (first and second capacitive dividers). Each divider can be independently refreshed while the other remains active, allowing continuous operation without interruption. This segmentation eliminates the need to stop the charge pump for capacitor refreshment, thereby reducing power waste from operational interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary refreshment of capacitors during dedicated refresh phases before they are needed for normal operation. The control circuitry refreshes the first capacitive divider before switching to use it, and refreshes the second capacitive divider while the first is in use. This preliminary action ensures capacitors are always ready for accurate voltage division without interrupting the charge pump operation.
2Measurement precision
If capacitive regulation is used in charge pumps, then output voltage control is achieved, but periodic refreshment of capacitors is required which interrupts operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single capacitive divider into two separate capacitive dividers (first and second capacitive dividers). Each divider can be independently refreshed while the other remains active, allowing continuous operation without interruption. This segmentation eliminates the need to stop the charge pump for capacitor refreshment, thereby maintaining continuous productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by maintaining one capacitive divider in active use while the other is refreshed. The multiplexer switches between the two dividers, ensuring that the charge pump operation never stops. This continuity principle maintains productivity while still achieving accurate output voltage control through periodic refreshment of the capacitors.
3Reliability
If periodic capacitor refreshment is implemented, then charge conservation is maintained, but operation interruption and power wastage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single capacitive divider into two separate capacitive dividers (first and second capacitive dividers). Each divider can be independently refreshed while the other remains active, allowing continuous operation without interruption. This segmentation eliminates the need to stop the charge pump for capacitor refreshment, thereby reducing power waste from operational interruptions while maintaining charge conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a strategy where one capacitive divider is discarded (taken offline) for refreshment while the other is recovered and used for continuous operation. The control circuitry manages the switching between dividers, discarding the active one for refresh and recovering it for future use. This approach maintains charge conservation through refreshment while minimizing operational interruptions and power wastage.
4Reliability
If periodic capacitor refreshment is implemented, then charge conservation is maintained, but operation interruption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single capacitive divider into two separate capacitive dividers (first and second capacitive dividers). Each divider can be independently refreshed while the other remains active, allowing continuous operation without interruption. This segmentation eliminates the need to stop the charge pump for capacitor refreshment, thereby maintaining both charge conservation and operational continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by maintaining one capacitive divider in active use while the other is refreshed. The multiplexer switches between the two dividers, ensuring that the charge pump operation never stops. This continuity principle maintains productivity while still achieving accurate output voltage control through periodic refreshment of the capacitors.
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 allows continuous operation and power savings by avoiding the need for capacitor resets during operation, minimizing output errors and power wastage, and is applicable to various charge pump designs, including Dickson-type pumps.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the first and second feedback networks can be operated in an active mode or in a reset mode in response to one or more second control signals. The control circuitry generates the first and second control signals, whereby the second feedback network is in the reset mode when the first feedback network is in the active mode
Implementation Method 2
The comparator is connected to receive a reference voltage at a first input and a selected feedback level at a second input and generate from these inputs the enable signal as an output
Implementation Method 3
The multiplex circuit has as inputs a first feedback level and a second feedback level, where the multiplex circuit provides one of the first and second feedback levels as the selected feedback level in response to a first control signal
Data Source
AI summary
In a charge pump system using a capacitive voltage divider, or other feedback circuit requiring periodic refreshing, in order to refresh the circuit, system operations would typically need to be suspended in order to refresh the capacitors if charge leakage begins to affect the output level. This can lead to delay and power inefficiencies. To overcome this, two feedback circuits are used so that while one is active, the other can have its capacitors' state refreshed. By alternating the two networks, delay can be avoided and power use reduced.