Parallel Charge Pump Control With Delayed Phases for Surge-Free Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charge pump designs experience power surges at the beginning of each charging cycle, potentially harming sensitive circuits, and often continue charging beyond the desired voltage level, causing the output to exceed the intended level.

Innovation Solution

A pumping controller is introduced that provides a pumping signal to a first charge pump unit and sequentially delayed versions of this signal to other units, utilizing a latch-based self-oscillating voltage regulator to manage the charging process, ensuring that the output voltage does not exceed the desired level.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a common pumping signal is used to control multiple charge pump units, then the charging operation starts simultaneously across all units, but this causes power surges that can harm sensitive circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging speedVSAvoidpower surge

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the charging operation into separate phases by assigning different pumping signals with different start times to different charge pump units. Instead of all units charging simultaneously with a common signal, each unit receives a segmented control signal that staggers the charging start times, thereby distributing the power demand and eliminating surges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic pumping signals with different phases for different charge pump units. By using phase-shifted periodic signals, the charging operations are distributed over time rather than occurring simultaneously, which smooths out power consumption and prevents surges while maintaining overall charging productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Power

If charge pump units operate in parallel with a common signal, then the system can deliver high current, but the charging continues beyond the desired voltage level causing overcharging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput currentVSAvoidvoltage level control

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control signals for each charge pump unit are adjusted based on the actual output voltage levels. By monitoring the voltage and providing feedback to the pumping controller, the system can determine when to stop or reduce charging for individual units, preventing overcharging while maintaining high current output capability through parallel operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses dynamic control signals that can change characteristics (such as duty cycle, frequency, or amplitude) based on real-time operating conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize power delivery while precisely controlling the final voltage level, preventing overcharging even when operating in parallel at high current.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12206325B2Pumping controller for a plurality of charge pump units

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

In one example, a system comprises a plurality of charge pump units connected in parallel to receive an input voltage and to generate an output voltage greater than the input voltage and a pumping controller to provide a pumping signal to a first charge pump unit of the plurality of charge pump units and to provide sequentially delayed versions of the pumping signal to the other charge pump units of the plurality of charge pump units.