Charge pump circuit

1. A charge pump circuit, comprising:

an input node (VV) and a reference node (VG) for connection to an input voltage;

a first pair of output nodes (VP,VN) and a second pair of output nodes (VQ,VM);

two pairs of flying capacitor nodes (CF 1 A, CF 1 B; CF 2 A,CF 2 B);

a network of switching paths for interconnecting said nodes; and

a controller operable to control the network of switching paths when in use with two flying capacitors (CF 1 ,CF 2 ) connected to the two pairs of flying capacitor nodes, to provide a first bipolar output voltage at the first pair of output nodes (VP,VN) and a second bipolar output voltage at the second pair of bipolar output nodes (VQ,VM).

2. The charge pump according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the first bipolar output voltage is operable to be a selectively variable bipolar output voltage, and the second bipolar output voltage a fixed bipolar voltage.

3. The charge pump according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the first bipolar output voltage is operable to be a selectively variable first bipolar output voltage, and the second bipolar output voltage is operable to be a selectively variable second bipolar output voltage.

4. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the first bipolar output voltage is +/−VV/6, where VV is the input supply voltage to the charge pump circuit.

5. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the first bipolar output voltage is +/−( 3/2)*VV and the second bipolar output voltage is +/−VV/2.

6. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the voltage across the first flying capacitor (CF 2 ) is VV/4 and the voltage across the second flying capacitor (CF 1 ) is VV/2.

7. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the first bipolar output voltage is +/−3VV.

8. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the first bipolar output voltage is +/−VV/4 and the second bipolar output voltage is +/−VV/2.

9. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the voltage across the first flying capacitor (CF 2 ) is VV/3 and the voltage across the second flying capacitor (CF 1 ) is VV/3.

10. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the first bipolar output voltage is +/−VV/3.

11. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the first bipolar output voltage is +/−VV/6 and the second bipolar output voltage is +/−VV/2.

12. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the voltage across the first flying capacitor (CF 2 ) is VV/5 and the voltage across the second flying capacitor (CF 1 ) is (⅗)*VV.

13. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the first bipolar output voltage is +/−VV/4.

14. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the first bipolar output voltage is +/−VV/5.

15. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that first bipolar output voltage is one of +/−2VV, +/−( 3/2)*VV, +/−VV, +/−VV/2, +/−VV/4, or +/−VV/6 and the second bipolar output voltage is +/−VV2.

16. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that first bipolar output voltage is one of +/−3VV, +/−2VV, +/−VV, +/−VV/2, +/−VV/3, +/−VV/4, +/−VV/5 or +/−VV/6 and the second bipolar output voltage is +/−VV.

17. The charge pump circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths to provide +/−VV/2 as said fixed bipolar output voltage, where VV is the input supply voltage to the charge pump circuit.

18. The charge pump circuit according to claim 17 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths to selectively provide two or more modes, said variable bipolar output voltage in each mode corresponding to a bipolar output voltage of +/−2VV, +/−( 3/2)*VV, +/−VV, +/−VV/2, +/−VV/4, or +/−VV/6.

19. The charge pump circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths to provide +/−VV as the fixed bipolar output voltage, where VV is the input supply voltage to the charge pump circuit.

20. The charge pump circuit according to claim 19 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths to selectively provide two or more modes, the variable bipolar output voltage in each mode corresponding to a bipolar output voltage of +/−3VV, +/−2VV, +/−VV, +/−VV/2, +/−VV/3, +/−VV/4, +/−VV/5 or +/−VV/6.

21. The charge pump circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths to selectively provide, the variable second bipolar output voltage to be +/−VV or +/−VV/2, where VV is the input supply voltage to the charge pump circuit.

22. The charge pump circuit according to claim 21 , wherein

when the variable second bipolar output voltage is +/−VV, the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths to selectively provide one or more modes, the variable bipolar output voltage in each mode corresponding to a bipolar output voltage of +/−3VV, +/−2VV, +/−VV, +/−VV/2, +/−VV/3, +/−VV/4, +/−VV/5 or +/−VV/6; and

when the variable second bipolar output voltage is +/−VV/2, the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths to selectively provide one or more modes, the variable bipolar output voltage in each mode corresponding to a bipolar output voltage of +/−2VV, +/−( 3/2)*VV, +/−VV, +/−VV/2, +/−VV/4, or +/−VV/6.

23. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein

the first pair of output nodes (VP,VN) comprises a first output node (VP) and a second output node (VN),

the second pair of output nodes (VQ,VM) comprises a third output node (VQ) and a fourth output node (VM),

the first pair of flying capacitor nodes comprises a first flying capacitor node (CF 2 A) and a second flying capacitor node (CF 2 B),

the second pair of flying capacitor nodes comprises a third flying capacitor node (CF 1 A) and a fourth flying capacitor node (CF 1 B), and wherein in use,

the first flying capacitor (CF 2 ) is connected to the first and second flying capacitor nodes (CF 2 A,CF 2 B), and a second flying capacitor (CF 1 ) is connected to the third and fourth flying capacitor nodes (CF 1 A,CF 1 B),

a first reservoir capacitor (CRP) is connected between the first output node (VP) and the reference node (VG), a second reservoir capacitor (CRN) is connected between the reference node (VG) and the second output node (VN), a third reservoir capacitor (CRQ) is connected between the third output node (VQ) and the reference node (VG) and a fourth reservoir capacitor (CRM) is connected between the reference node (VG) and the fourth output node (VM).

24. The charge pump circuit according to claim 23 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that,

in a first switching state, the first flying capacitor (CF 2 ), the second flying capacitor (CF 1 ) and the first reservoir capacitor (CRP) are connected in series between the input node (VV) and the reference node (VG), the series connected first flying capacitor (CF 2 ) and the first reservoir capacitor (CRP) are also connected in parallel to the third reservoir capacitor (CRQ) between the third output node (VQ) and the reference node (VG), and the second flying capacitor (CF 1 ) and the third reservoir capacitor (CRQ) are connected in series between the input node (VV) and the reference node (VG).

25. The charge pump circuit according to claim 24 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the first bipolar output voltage is +/−VV/4 and the second bipolar output voltage is +/−VV/2.

26. The charge pump circuit according to claim 23 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that

in a second switching state, the first flying capacitor (CF 2 ) and the second reservoir capacitor (CRN) are connected in series, and the second flying capacitor (CF 1 ) is connected in parallel with the series connected first flying capacitor (CF 2 ) and second reservoir capacitor (CRN).

27. The charge pump circuit according to claim 24 , wherein the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that the first bipolar output is +/−/6 and the second bipolar output is +/−VV/2.

28. The charge pump circuit according to claim 1 , wherein at least one output voltage (VP, VN, VQ, VM) or a voltage difference between any two output voltages, is compared with a threshold level.

29. The charge pump circuit according to claim 28 , wherein the threshold is independent of the input supply voltage VV.

30. The charge pump circuit according to claim 28 , wherein when in use with a first reservoir capacitor (CRP) connected between the first output node (VP) and the reference node (VG), a second reservoir capacitor (CRN) connected between the reference node (VG) and the second output node (VN), a third reservoir capacitor (CRQ) connected between the first output node (VQ) and the reference node (VG), and a fourth reservoir capacitor (CRM) connected between the reference node (VG) and the fourth output node (VM),

the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that first reservoir capacitor (CRP) is recharged when the first output (VP) is smaller in magnitude than a first threshold, the second reservoir capacitor (CRN) is recharged when the second output (VN) is smaller in magnitude than a second threshold, the third reservoir capacitor (CRQ) is recharged when the third output (VQ) is smaller in magnitude than a third threshold, and the fourth reservoir capacitor (CRM) is recharged when the fourth output (VM) is smaller in magnitude than a fourth threshold.

31. An audio output chain arranged to receive an input audio signal and process the audio signal to drive a load, said load comprising at least one of: a headphone, a speaker, a line load, a haptic transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the audio output chain comprises the charge pump circuit according to claim 1 .

32. The audio output chain according to claim 31 , wherein the controller is operable to control the switching sequence of the network of switches in dependence on a comparison of at least one of the outputs of the charge pump with a threshold level.

33. The audio output chain according to claim 32 , wherein the threshold level is independent of the input voltage (VV).

34. The audio output chain according to claim 32 , further comprising a charge pump controller ( 210 ), wherein the charge pump controller ( 210 ) is operable to receive a control signal ( 208 ), the threshold level being dependent on the control signal ( 208 ).

35. The audio output chain according to claim 34 , wherein the control signal ( 208 ) is a gain or volume signal.

36. The audio output chain according to claim 32 , wherein when in use with a first reservoir capacitor (CRP) connected between the first output node (VP) and the reference node (VG), and a second reservoir capacitor (CRN) connected between the reference node (VG) and the second output node (VN),

the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that first reservoir capacitor (CRP) is recharged when the first output (VP) is smaller in magnitude than a first threshold, and the second reservoir capacitor (CRN) is recharged when the second output (VN) is smaller in magnitude than a second threshold.

37. The audio output chain according to claim 36 , wherein when in use with a third reservoir capacitor (CRQ) connected between the first output node (VQ) and the reference node (VG), and a fourth reservoir capacitor (CRM) connected between the reference node (VG) and the fourth output node (VM),

the controller is operable to control the network of switching paths such that first reservoir capacitor (CRP) is recharged when the first output (VP) is smaller in magnitude than the first threshold, the second reservoir capacitor (CRN) is recharged when the second output (VN) is smaller in magnitude than the second threshold, the third reservoir capacitor (CRQ) is recharged when the third output (VQ) is smaller in magnitude than a third threshold, and the fourth reservoir capacitor (CRM) is recharged when the fourth output (VM) is smaller in magnitude than a fourth threshold.

38. The audio output chain according to claim 34 , wherein the charge pump controller ( 210 ) is operable to receive said input audio signal ( 212 ), and wherein the threshold level is dependent on the input audio signal ( 212 ).

39. An integrated circuit comprising the charge pump circuit according to claim 1 .

40. An audio device comprising the charge pump circuit according to claim 1 .

41. A device as claimed in claim 40 wherein said device is at least one of: a battery powered device, a portable device, a personal audio device, a personal video device; a mobile telephone, a personal data assistant, a gaming device, a portable computing device, a laptop and a satellite navigation system.

42. A method of controlling a charge pump circuit to generate a bipolar output voltage, the charge pump circuit comprising an input node (VV) and a reference node (VG) for connection to an input voltage, a first pair of output nodes (VP,VN) and a second pair of output nodes (VQ,VM), two pairs of flying capacitor nodes (CF 1 A, CF 1 B; CF 2 A,CF 2 B), and a network of switching paths for interconnecting said nodes, the method comprising the step of:

controlling the network of switching paths when in use with two flying capacitors (CF 1 ,CF 2 ) connected to the two pairs of flying capacitor nodes, to provide a first bipolar output voltage at the first pair of output nodes (VP,VN) and a second bipolar output voltage at the second pair of bipolar output nodes (VQ,VM).