Voltage converter using MOS transistor
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a voltage converter for generating an output voltage at an output terminal from an input voltage VDD taken from ground GND, said voltage converter comprising a switched capacitance Cp arranged in a bridge of transistors of the MOS type functioning as switches, each transistor being controlled by a control signal having a level varying in the rhythm of a clock signal clock. The invention is characterized in that the converter comprises at least a control circuit for supplying said control signal applied between the gate and the source of one of the transistors functioning as a switch, said control circuit having the particular function of generating a control signal having an amplitude which is inversely proportional to the input voltage VDD when the transistor which it controls is equivalent to a closed switch.
1. A voltage converter for generating an output voltage at an output terminal from an input voltage taken from ground, said voltage converter comprising:
a capacitance having a first terminal and a second terminal,
four transistors of the type functioning as switches, each transistor being controlled by a control signal having a level varying in the rhythm of a clock signal, each transistor comprising a source, a gate, a drain, and such that the first transistor is connected between the input voltage and the first terminal, the second transistor is connected between the first terminal and ground, the third transistor is connected between the input voltage and the second terminal, and the fourth transistor is connected between the second terminal and the output terminal,
characterized in that it comprises at least a control circuit for supplying said control signal applied between the gate and the source of one of the transistors functioning as a switch, said control circuit having the particular function of generating a control signal having an amplitude which is inversely proportional to the input voltage when the transistor which it controls is equivalent to a closed switch.
2. A voltage converter as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said control circuit comprises, when it controls a transistor of the P-MOS type:
an additional transistor of the P-MOS type functioning as a closed switch,
a current source arranged in series with the drain-source junction of said additional transistor,
a switch having two inputs, the first input of which is connected to the central tap of the additional transistor and the current source, and the second input is connected to the input voltage, said switch being controlled via said clock signal.
3. A voltage converter as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said control circuit comprises, when it controls a transistor of the N-MOS type:
an additional transistor of the N-MOS type functioning as a closed switch,
a current source arranged in series with the drain-source junction of said additional transistor,
a switch having two inputs, the first input of which is connected to the central tap of the additional transistor and the current source, and the second input is connected to ground, said switch being controlled via said clock signal.
4. An integrated circuit comprising a voltage converter for generating an output voltage at an output terminal from an input voltage taken from ground, said voltage converter comprising:
a capacitance having a first terminal and a second terminal,
four transistors of the MOS type functioning as switches, each transistor being controlled by a control signal having a level varying in the rhythm of a clock signal, each transistor comprising a source, a gate, a drain, and such that the first transistor is connected between the input voltage and the first terminal, the second transistor is connected between the first terminal and ground, the third transistor is connected between the input voltage and the second terminal, and the fourth transistor is connected between the second terminal and the output terminal,
characterized in that the voltage converter comprises at least a control circuit for supplying said control signal applied between the gate and the source of one of the transistors functioning as a switch, said control signal having the particular function of generating a control signal having an amplitude which is inversely proportional to the input voltage when the transistor which it controls is equivalent to a closed switch.
5. A device for reading smart cards, comprising a voltage converter for generating an output voltage at an output terminal from an input voltage taken from ground, said voltage converter comprising:
a capacitance having a first terminal and a second terminal,
four transistors of the MOS type functioning as switches, each transistor being controlled by a control signal having a level varying in the rhythm of a clock signal, each transistor comprising a source, a gate, a drain, and such that the first transistor is connected between the input voltage and the first terminal, the second transistor is connected between the first terminal and ground, the third transistor is connected between the input voltage and the second terminal, and the fourth transistor is connected between the second terminal and the output terminal,
characterized in that the voltage converter comprises at least a control circuit for supplying said control signal applied between the gate and the source of one of the transistors functioning as a switch, said control signal having the particular function of generating a control signal with an amplitude which is inversely proportional to the input voltage when the transistor which it controls is equivalent to a closed switch.