Voltage boosting circuits having over-voltage protection circuits therein
US6052022A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M1/32
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Voltage boosting circuits having improved overvoltage protection circuits therein include a first pumping circuit and a second pumping circuit. The first pumping circuit includes comprises a first charge pump having an output coupled to a boosted voltage signal line and an oscillator for driving the first charge pump. The second pumping circuit comprises a second charge pump having an output coupled to the boosted voltage signal line and an active kicker circuit for driving the second charge pump upon receipt of a control signal during an active mode of operation. This control signal may be an address strobe signal, such as a complementary row address strobe signal (RASB). An overvoltage protection circuit is also provided. This overvoltage protection circuit includes a circuit to detect an overvoltage condition if a potential of the boosted voltage signal line exceeds a first threshold and a circuit to block receipt of the control signal by the active kicker circuit if the overvoltage condition is detected. By blocking the control signal, the active kicker circuit which drives the second charge pump can be disabled.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.