IP Library Granted Patent US 8,854,019
Granted Patent B1
US 8,854,019 · App. 12/567,318 · Granted Oct 7, 2014

Hybrid DC/DC power converter with charge-pump and buck converter

Inventors: Chris Levesque (Fountain Valley, CA); David Zimlich (Carlsbad, CA); Jean-Christophe Berchtold (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,854,019
App. No.
12/567,318
Granted
Oct 7, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

A hybrid Direct Current (DC) to DC converter is disclosed for efficiently converting an input voltage from one level to another. In a preferred embodiment, a dual phase charge pump is combined with a buck converter and a switch controller to provide a converted voltage that is useable to cellular handset circuits based on power amplifier (PA) technology.

Claims (41)

1. Charge pump circuitry comprising:

a first switch coupling an input node and a first node;

a second switch coupling the first node and a charge transfer node;

a third switch coupling the input node and a second node;

a fourth switch coupling the second node and a fixed voltage node;

a fifth switch coupling the input node and a third node;

a sixth switch coupling the third node to the charge transfer node;

a seventh switch coupling the input node to a fourth node;

an eighth switch coupling the fourth node to the fixed voltage node;

a first flying capacitor coupling the first node and the second node;

a second flying capacitor coupling the third node to the fourth node, and

wherein the first switch and the second switch are configured to be directly controlled by a third node voltage from the third node.

2. The charge pump circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the fifth switch and the sixth switch are configured to be directly controlled by a first node voltage from the first node.

3. The charge pump circuitry of claim 2 , wherein the third switch, the fourth switch, the seventh switch, and the eighth switch are configured to be controlled by control circuitry.

4. The charge pump circuitry of claim 2 , wherein the third switch, the fourth switch, the seventh switch, and the eight switch are each independently controlled by the control circuitry.

5. The charge pump circuitry of claim 2 , further comprising:

a buck circuit coupling the charge transfer node to an output node.

6. Charge pump circuitry comprising:

a first switch coupling an input node and a first node;

a second switch coupling the first node and a charge transfer node;

a third switch coupling the input node and a second node;

a fourth switch coupling the second node and a fixed voltage node;

a fifth switch coupling the input node and a third node;

a sixth switch coupling the third node to the charge transfer node;

a seventh switch coupling the input node to a fourth node;

an eighth switch coupling the fourth node to the fixed voltage node;

a first flying capacitor coupling the first node and the second node;

a second flying capacitor coupling the third node to the fourth node, and

wherein the fifth switch and the sixth switch are configured to be directly controlled by a first node voltage from the first node.

7. Charge pump circuitry comprising:

a first switch coupling an input node and a first node;

a second switch coupling the first node and a charge transfer node;

a third switch coupling the input node and a second node;

a fourth switch coupling the second node and a fixed voltage node;

a fifth switch coupling the input node and a third node;

a sixth switch coupling the third node to the charge transfer node;

a seventh switch coupling the input node to a fourth node;

an eighth switch coupling the fourth node to the fixed voltage node;

a first flying capacitor coupling the first node and the second node;

a second flying capacitor coupling the third node to the fourth node, and

wherein at least one of the switches is configured to be directly controlled by one of the nodes coupled to one of the flying capacitors.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Jun 16, 2016
From: RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
To: QORVO US, INC.
Reel/Frame 039196/0941 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (RECORDED 3/19/13 AT REEL/FRAME 030045/0831) Recorded Mar 30, 2015
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035334/0363 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 19, 2013
From: RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 030045/0831 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2009
From: LEVESQUE, CHRIS; ZIMLICH, DAVID; BERCHTOLD, JEAN-CHRISTOPHE
To: RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 023310/0761 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 61100197 · Sep 25, 2008