Charge pump strength calibration and screening in circuit design
US9553506B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jan 24, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03L7/0891
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques and apparatuses for identifying weak charge pumps and for setting an optimal clock period for charge pumps to minimize variations in a current-voltage characteristic. A current sink which absorbs a specified current is connected to an output node of a charge pump. In one approach, a success or fail status is set for a charge pump by driving it with a specified clock period in a constantly pumping mode and determining if the output voltage reaches a specified output voltage. In another approach, a success or fail status is set for a charge pump by driving it with a specified clock period in a regulation mode and determining if the period in which the output voltage cycles is a specified multiple, e.g., 2×, of a period of the clock signal. In another approach, an optimal clock period is determined.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.