Pump capacitor configuration for switched capacitor circuits

Abstract

A cascade multiplier includes a switch network having switching elements, a phase pump, and a network of pump capacitors coupled with the phase pump and to the switch network. The network of pump capacitors includes first and second capacitors, both of which have one terminal DC coupled with the phase pump, and a third capacitor coupled with the phase pump through the first capacitor.

Having described the invention, and a preferred embodiment thereof, what is claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, and a first cascade multiplier coupled between said first and second terminals for causing an electric potential at said first terminal to be a multiple of an electric potential at said second terminal, said first cascade multiplier comprising a first set of switching elements, one of which is coupled with said first terminal and another of which is coupled with said second terminal, said first set of switching elements comprising a first switching element having a first state in which current flows through said first switching element, and a second state in which current flow through said first switching element is suppressed, said first switching element having a first terminal and a second terminal, a second switching element having a first state in which current flows through said second switching element, and a second state in which current flow through said second switching element is suppressed, said second switching element having a first terminal and a second terminal, said first terminal of said second switching element being coupled with said second terminal of said first switching element, a first circuit with a first and second state of operation for providing a first time-varying electric potential, a second circuit for providing a second electric potential, a first capacitor network coupled between said first circuit and said first set of switching elements, and a second capacitor network coupled between said second circuit and said first set of switching elements, wherein at least one of said first capacitor network and said second capacitor network comprises a set of capacitors, each capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, said first terminals being coupled with corresponding ones of selected nodes between pairs of said switching elements, wherein said set of capacitors comprises first and second capacitors, second terminals of which are DC coupled with said first circuit, and a third capacitor coupled with said first circuit through said first capacitor. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said first capacitor network and said second capacitor network comprises said first capacitor network. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said first capacitor network and said second capacitor network comprises said second capacitor network. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured for causing selected switching elements from said plurality of switching elements to transition between said first and second states to cause a voltage at said first terminal to be a multiple of a voltage at said second terminal. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first switching element comprises a diode, wherein when said diode is forward biased to be placed in said first state, and wherein said diode is reverse biased to be placed in said second state. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first switching element comprises a switch. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first switching element comprises a transistor. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second circuit is configured to provide a second time-varying electric potential, said second time-varying electric potential switching between a first state and a second state at a specific frequency. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said second time varying electric potential is one hundred and eighty degrees out of phase with said first time-varying electric potential. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second circuit has one state. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said second capacitor network comprises a set of capacitors, each capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, said first terminals being coupled with corresponding ones of selected nodes between pairs of said switching elements, wherein said set of capacitors comprises first and second capacitors, second terminals of which are DC coupled with said second circuit, and a third capacitor coupled with said second circuit through said first capacitor. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said cascade multiplier further comprises a second set of switching elements, one of which is coupled with said first terminal and another of which is coupled with said second terminal, said second set of switching elements comprising a first switching element having a first state in which current flows through said first switching element, and a second state in which current flow through said first switching element is suppressed, said first switching element having a first terminal and a second terminal, and a second switching element having a first state in which current flows through said second switching element, and a second state in which current flow through said first switching element is suppressed, said second switching element having a first terminal and a second terminal, said first terminal of said second switching element being coupled with said second terminal of said first switching element, a third circuit with a first and second state of operation for providing a third electric potential, and a third capacitor network coupled between said third circuit and said second set of switching elements. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said third capacitor network comprises a set of capacitors, each capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, said first terminals being coupled with corresponding ones of selected nodes between pairs of said switching elements from said second set of switching elements, wherein said set of capacitors from said third capacitor network comprises first and second capacitors, second terminals of which are DC coupled with said third circuit, and a third capacitor coupled with said third circuit through said first capacitor. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a controller configured for causing selected switching elements from said set of switching elements to transition between said first and second states to cause a voltage at said first terminal to be a multiple of a voltage at said second terminal. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said second circuit is configured to provide a constant electric potential. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said second circuit is configured to provide a second time-varying electric potential, said second time-varying electric potential switching between a first value and a second value at a specific frequency. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said second capacitor network comprises a set of capacitors, each capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, said first terminals being coupled with corresponding ones of selected nodes between pairs of said switching elements, wherein said set of capacitors comprises first and second capacitors, second terminals of which are DC coupled with said second circuit, and a third capacitor coupled with said second circuit through said first capacitor. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising a cascade multiplier, said cascade multiplier comprising a switch network having switching elements, a phase pump, and first and second capacitor networks coupled to said switch network, wherein at least one of said first and second networks comprises a network of pump capacitors coupled with said phase pump and to said switch network, and wherein at least one of said first and second capacitor networks comprises first and second capacitors, second terminals of which are DC coupled with said phase pump, and a third capacitor coupled with said phase pump through said first capacitor. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a controller configured for causing selected switching elements to transition between first and second states to cause a voltage at said first terminal to be a multiple of a voltage at said second terminal. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a transceiver configured to receive energy from said cascade multiplier. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a memory element configured to receive energy from said cascade multiplier. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said first capacitor network comprises a pump capacitor network. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said first capacitor network comprises a DC capacitor network. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, and a first cascade multiplier coupled between said first and second terminals, said first cascade multiplier comprising
 a first set of switching elements,   a phase pump,   a circuit for providing an electric potential,   a first capacitor network, and   a second capacitor network,   wherein said first set of switching elements comprises a string of switching elements connected in series between said first terminal and said second terminal,   wherein said phase pump has first and second states of operation for providing a first time-varying electric potential,   wherein said first capacitor network is coupled between said phase pump and said first set of switching elements, and   wherein said second capacitor network is coupled between said circuit and said first set of switching elements,   wherein at least one network of capacitors selected from the group consisting of said first capacitor network and said second capacitor network comprises a set of capacitors, each capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, said first terminals being DC coupled with corresponding ones of selected nodes between pairs of switching elements in said string of switching elements,   wherein, if said network of capacitors is selected to be said first capacitor network, said set of capacitors comprises first and second capacitors, second terminals of which are DC coupled with said phase pump at a node, and a third capacitor coupled with said phase pump through said first capacitor, and   wherein, if said network of capacitors is selected to be said second capacitor network, said set of capacitors comprises first and second capacitors, second terminals of which are DC coupled with said circuit at a node, and a third capacitor coupled with said circuit through said first capacitor,   
       said apparatus further comprising a controller configured for synchronizing said phase pump with transitions of selected switching elements from said first set of switching elements between said first and second states to cause a voltage at said first terminal to be a multiple of a voltage at said second terminal. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said string of switching elements comprises a diode. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said string of switching elements comprises a switch. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said string of switching elements comprises a transistor. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said circuit is configured to provide a second time-varying electric potential, said second time-varying electric potential switching between a first state and a second state at a specific frequency. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said second time varying electric potential is one hundred and eighty degrees out of phase with said first time-varying electric potential. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said circuit has at most one state. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said second capacitor network comprises first and second capacitors, second terminals of which are DC coupled with said circuit, and a third capacitor coupled with said circuit through said first capacitor. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said cascade multiplier further comprises
 a second set of switching elements, one of which is coupled with said first terminal and another of which is coupled with said second terminal,   an additional circuit with a first and second state of operation for providing a third electric potential, and   a third capacitor network coupled between said additional circuit and said second set of switching elements.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said third capacitor network comprises a set of capacitors, each capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, said first terminals being coupled with corresponding ones of selected nodes between pairs of switching elements from said second set of switching elements,
 wherein said set of capacitors from said third capacitor network comprises first and second capacitors, second terminals of which are DC coupled with said additional circuit, and a third capacitor coupled with said additional circuit through said first capacitor.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said circuit is configured to provide a constant electric potential. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said circuit is configured to provide a second time-varying electric potential, said second time-varying electric potential switching between a first value and a second value at a specific frequency. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein said network of capacitors comprises said first capacitor network, and wherein said second capacitor network comprises first and second capacitors, second terminals of which are DC coupled with said circuit, and a third capacitor coupled with said circuit through said first capacitor. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said network of capacitors comprises said first capacitor network. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said network of capacitors comprises said second capacitor network. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said phase pump comprises plural switches that operate in phase. 
     
     
         40 . An apparatus comprising a cascade multiplier connected between first and second terminals, said cascade multiplier comprising
 a switch network having switching elements,   a phase pump, and   first and second capacitor networks coupled to said switch network,   wherein at least one of said first and second capacitor networks comprises a network of pump capacitors coupled with said phase pump and to said switch network, and   wherein at least one of said first and second capacitor networks comprises a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a third capacitor,   wherein said first capacitor has a terminal that is DC coupled with a node of said phase pump, said second capacitor has a terminal that is DC coupled with said node of said phase pump, and said third capacitor is coupled with said phase pump through said first capacitor,   
       said apparatus further comprising a controller configured for synchronizing said phase pump with transition of selected switching elements between first and second states to cause a voltage at said first terminal to be a multiple of a voltage at said second terminal. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , further comprising a transceiver configured to receive energy from said cascade multiplier. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , further comprising a memory element configured to receive energy from said cascade multiplier. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said first and second capacitor networks each comprise a pump capacitor network. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein said first capacitor network comprises a network of DC capacitors.