Patent US4736121A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4736121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Charge pump circuit for driving N-channel MOS transistors
Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL
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Filing: 1986-08-18
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Granted: 1988-04-05
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Expires: 2006-08-18
Abstract
Abstract This charge pump circuit comprises a capacitor connected with a first terminal thereof to a reference voltage point through a first switch element and with a second terminal thereof to a switching section. The switching section, which is arranged between a positive supply voltage line and the ground, is controlled so as to alternately and selectively connect the second terminal of the capacitor to the positive supply and to ground. The first terminal of the capacitor is further connected to the gate of the MOS transistor to be driven. During operation the switch section is controlled so as to alternately charge the capacitor and allow transfer of the charge of the capacitor to the MOS transistor gate, thereby achieving a fast charging of the MOS transistor and a low circuit dissipation in the DC mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Carlo Cini
- 👤 Claudio Diazzi
- 👤 Domenico Rossi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:58
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/04; H03K17/041; H03K17/0412; H03K17/04123; H03K17/042; H03K17/04206; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/687; H03K17/6871; H03K17/6874; H03K19/00; H03K19/01; H03K19/017; H03K19/01707; H03K19/01714
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A charge pump circuit for driving N-channel MOS transistors, for connection to a N-channel MOS transistor having a drain electrode connected to a supply voltage line, a source electrode connected to a load and a gate electrode, comprising a capacitor connected with a first terminal thereof to a reference voltage line through a first switch element and with a second terminal thereof to a switching section arranged between said supply voltage line and a ground line and being controlled so as to alternately and selectively connecting said second terminal of said capacitor to said supply voltage line and to said ground line, said first terminal of said capacitor being further connected to said gate electrode of said N-channel MOS transistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A charge pump circuit for driving N-channel MOS transistors, for connection to a N-channel MOS transistor having a drain electrode connected to a supply voltage line, a source electrode connected to a load and a gate electrode, comprising a capacitor connected with a first terminal thereof to a reference voltage line through a first switch element and with a second terminal thereof to a switching section arranged between said supply voltage line and a ground line and being controlled so as to alternately and selectively connecting said second terminal of said capacitor to said supply voltage line and to said ground line, said first terminal of said capacitor being further connected to said gate electrode of said N-channel MOS transistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A circuit according to claim 1 wherein said first switch element comprises a further MOS transistor having a source electrode connected to said reference voltage line, a drain electrode connected to said first terminal of said capacitor and a gate electrode receiving an input signal controlling switching-on and -off of said charge pump circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A circuit according to claim 1 wherein said first terminal of said capacitor is connected to said gate electrode of said MOS transistor through a second switch element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit according to claim 3 wherein said second switch element is a diode having its anode electrode connected to said capacitor and its cathode electrode connected to said gate electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A circuit according to claim 2 wherein said first switch element further comprises a diode having its anode connected to said drain electrode of said further MOS transistor and its cathode connected to said first terminal of said capacitor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4633106A
Cited
US4591738A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-04-05 | 1991-10-05 | 1992-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-04-05 | 1995-10-05 | 1996-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-04-05 | 1999-10-05 | 2000-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |