Multi-level high voltage generator
View Patent ↗A multi-level high voltage generator according to embodiments of the invention is capable of simultaneously generating high voltages of various levels by using one charge pump. The multi-level high voltage generator includes a charge pump unit, a voltage divider unit, and a pump control unit. The charge pump unit raises an input voltage applied at an input terminal to simultaneously output a number of high voltages having different levels. The voltage divider unit divides the voltages from the charge pump unit. The pump control unit operates according to an enable signal and generates pump control signals in response to a reference voltage, a control clock signal, and a divided voltage from the voltage divider unit. The charge pump unit generates the high voltages and is controlled by the pump control signals from the pump control unit.
1. A multi-level high voltage generator comprising:
a charge pump unit structured to generate high voltages having different voltage levels by raising one input voltage inputted through an input terminal, the charge pump unit comprising pump blocks connected in series between the input terminal and an output terminal;
a voltage divider unit structured to operate according to an external enable signal and structured to generate divided voltages in response to the high voltages from the charge pump unit; and
a pump control unit structured to operate according to the external enable signal and structured to generate pump control signals in response to a reference voltage, a control clock signal, and the divided voltages from the voltage divider unit, each of the pump control signals corresponding to one of the divided voltages, each of the pump control signals structured to control the charge pump unit to perform a voltage raise operation for generating one of the high voltages,
wherein each one of the pump blocks is structured to receive a corresponding one of the pump control signals as input,
wherein each one of the pump blocks is structured to raise an input voltage in response to the corresponding one of the pump control signals, and
wherein the corresponding one of the pump control signals received by each one of the pump blocks is independent of any of the other pump control signals received by any of the other pump blocks.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the pump blocks comprise pump circuits connected in series, the pump circuits in one pump block structured to be controlled by the same pump control signal.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein each pump circuit is structured to perform a voltage raise operation to an input voltage when the pump control signal is inputted.
4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the pump circuits does not perform a voltage raise operation when the pump control signal is not inputted.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the voltage divider unit comprises a plurality of voltage divider circuits, each voltage divider circuit corresponding to one of the high voltages from the charge pump unit.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein each voltage divider circuit comprises resistors connected in series, each voltage divider circuit structured to divide the one of the high voltages according to a resistance ratio of the resistors in response to the enable signal.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the pump control unit comprises pump control circuits, each pump control circuit corresponding to one of the divided voltages inputted from the voltage divider unit.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein each pump control circuit comprises:
a differential amplifier structured to operate according to the external enable signal and structured to maintain levels of the reference voltage and the divided voltage; and
logic circuits structured to generate the pump control signal in response to an output of the differential amplifier, the external enable signal, and the control clock signal.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the pump control signal is outputted as a clock signal.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the charge pump unit is structured to generate each of the high voltages at a different output of the charge pump unit.
11. A multi-level high voltage generator comprising:
a charge pump unit structured to generate high voltages having different voltage levels by raising one input voltage inputted through an input terminal, the charge pump unit including pump blocks connected in series between the input terminal and an output terminal, the pump blocks including pump circuits connected in series;
a voltage divider unit structured to operate according to an external enable signal and structured to generate divided voltages in response to the high voltages from the charge pump unit; and
a pump control unit structured to operate according to the external enable signal and structured to generate pump control signals in response to a reference voltage, a control clock signal, and the divided voltages from the voltage divider unit, each of the pump control signals corresponding to one of the divided voltages, each of the pump control signals structured to control the charge pump unit to perform a voltage raise operation for generating one of the high voltages, the pump circuits in one pump block structured to be controlled by the same pump control signal.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein each pump circuit is structured to perform a voltage raise operation to an input voltage when the pump control signal is inputted.
13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the pump circuit does not perform a voltage raise operation when the pump control signal is not inputted.
14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the voltage divider unit comprises a plurality of voltage divider circuits, each voltage divider circuit corresponding to one of the high voltages from the charge pump unit.
15. The device of claim 14 , wherein each voltage divider circuit comprises resistors connected in series, each voltage divider circuit structured to divide the one of the high voltages according to a resistance ratio of the resistors in response to the enable signal.
16. The device of claim 11 , wherein the pump control unit comprises pump control circuits, each pump control circuit corresponding to one of the divided voltages inputted from the voltage divider unit.
17. The device of claim 16 , wherein each pump control circuit comprises:
a differential amplifier structured to operate according to the external enable signal and structured to maintain levels of the reference voltage and the divided voltage; and
logic circuits structured to generate the pump control signal in response to an output of the differential amplifier, the external enable signal, and the control clock signal.
18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the pump control signal is outputted as a clock signal.