Charge Pump Voltage Regulator With Feedback Ripple Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voltage regulators with charge pump circuits experience output voltage ripples due to response delays in comparator, oscillator, and logic circuit, leading to performance degradation and errors in non-volatile memory applications.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a feedback regulation circuit with an inverter and a phase control circuit, along with a filter, to quickly adjust the charge pump operation based on output voltage feedback, reducing response delays and minimizing output voltage ripples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional voltage regulator with comparator, oscillator and logic circuit is used to control charge pump circuit, then the output voltage can be regulated, but response delays occur causing high output voltage ripples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the output voltage is continuously monitored and compared against a reference voltage. When the output voltage exceeds the reference voltage, the feedback signal immediately stops the charge pump operation. This closed-loop feedback eliminates the response delays inherent in traditional comparator-oscillator-logic circuit configurations, thereby reducing output voltage ripples and improving voltage stability.
2Reliability
If traditional regulation circuits are used, then voltage regulation is achieved, but the die area and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary oscillator and complex logic circuit components from the traditional voltage regulator design. By using a direct feedback mechanism that monitors output voltage and controls the charge pump switch, the design removes redundant components that occupy die area, thereby reducing the overall chip size while maintaining voltage regulation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage regulator uses the output voltage itself as the feedback signal to control the charge pump operation. The system self-regulates by automatically stopping charge pump operation when the output voltage exceeds the reference voltage, eliminating the need for separate control circuits and reducing die area requirements.
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
Reduces output voltage ripples by up to 40% while occupying a smaller die area and reducing manufacturing costs, ensuring stable voltage supply for non-volatile memory operations.
Implementation Method 1
a filter, coupled to the output node, configured to receive the second operation control signal and configured to inject to or sink from the output node a charge that is a function of the second operation control signal
Implementation Method 2
voltage regulators with a charge pump circuit are used to generate an output voltage higher than the respective input voltage (i.e., operating as a DC-DC boost converter), by exploiting clocked charge transfer between capacitors used as charge-accumulation elements
Data Source
AI summary
In embodiments, a voltage regulator has an input node to receive an input voltage and an output node. The voltage regulator has a charge pump circuit that receives a boosting control signal to boost the input voltage based on the boosting control signal. The voltage regulator further has a feedback regulation circuit configured to receive the output voltage and to provide a first operation control signal and a second operation control signal as a function of the output voltage; a phase control circuit configured to receive the first operation control signal and to provide the boosting control signal as a function of the first operation control signal; and a filter coupled to the output node, configured to receive the second operation control signal and configured to inject to or sink from the output node a charge that is a function of the second operation control signal.