Multi-Stage Charge Pump Structure Reducing Surface Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional charge pump circuits require additional capacitors and other components that occupy significant surface area, impeding compliance with space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A charge pump structure with a first and second stage, each comprising branches with capacitors connected between intermediate nodes, controlled by a clock and inverted clock signal, allowing capacitors to be series or parallel coupled to optimize voltage conversion with fewer transistors, thereby reducing surface area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional capacitors and components are added to control input-output voltage relationship, then voltage conversion capability is improved, but surface area occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple charge pump stages into a single integrated structure where capacitors are shared between stages. The first and second capacitors serve dual purposes in voltage generation and storage, eliminating the need for separate dedicated capacitors for each stage, thus reducing total component count and surface area while maintaining voltage conversion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitors in the charge pump structure perform multiple functions simultaneously: they act as voltage storage elements, voltage generation elements, and coupling elements between stages. This multi-functionality reduces the number of dedicated components needed, thereby reducing surface area occupation while preserving adaptability for different voltage conversion requirements.
2Power
If more capacitors are used to achieve higher voltage output, then output voltage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the voltage multiplication function across multiple stages by sharing capacitors between them. The series connection of capacitors during charging phases and parallel connection during discharge phases enables higher voltage output without proportionally increasing the number of capacitors, thus reducing device complexity while achieving the desired power output.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge pump utilizes periodic clock signals to alternately charge and discharge capacitors in a coordinated sequence. This periodic action enables the capacitors to accumulate voltage over multiple cycles and deliver higher output voltage without requiring a large number of capacitors connected in parallel, thereby reducing component quantity while maintaining high power output capability.
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 structure achieves higher DC voltage outputs with fewer components, occupying less surface area and maintaining steady voltage levels, while efficiently directing current to a load capacitor.
Implementation Method 1
first capacitors (C1, C2) connected between first intermediate nodes (Q1, Q1_B) and additional first intermediate nodes (V1, V1_B)
Implementation Method 2
two first p-channel field effect transistors connected in series between the additional first intermediate nodes (V1, V1_B)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to structures including charge pump structures and related methods of operating such structures. A structure of the disclosure includes a first charge pump stage including first branches each connected between an input voltage and ground. The first branches each include first capacitors (C1, C2) connected between first intermediate nodes (Q1, Q1_B) and additional first intermediate nodes (V1, V1_B), respectively. A second charge pump stage includes second branches each connected between second intermediate nodes and additional second intermediate nodes, respectively.