A dual-stage boost converter is disclosed. The boost converter includes a charge pump and a boost stage. The charge pump is coupled between an input voltage source and the boost stage. The charge pump is coupled to receive the input voltage and configured to generate an intermediate voltage that is greater than the input voltage received from the input voltage source. The boost stage includes an inductor coupled to receive the intermediate voltage and is configured to generate an output voltage that is greater than or equal to the intermediate voltage.

Driver circuitry for driving a load based on an input signal, comprising: at least one variable boost stage comprising: first and second input nodes configured to receive a first voltage and a second voltage respectively; first and second flying capacitor nodes for connection to a flying capacitor therebetween; a network of switching paths for selectively connecting the first and second input nodes with the first and second flying capacitor nodes; an output stage for selectively connecting a driver output node to each of the first and second flying capacitor nodes; and a controller operable in a first boost mode to: control the output stage to selectively connect the driver output node to the first flying capacitor node; control the network of switching paths to switch connection of the second flying capacitor node between the first and second input nodes at a controlled duty cycle; and in a first charge top-up cycle, control the network of switching paths to connect the first input node to the first flying capacitor node during a phase of the controlled duty cycle in which the first input node is connected to the second flying capacitor node; wherein the frequency of the controlled duty cycle is greater than the frequency of the charge top-up cycle.

Driver circuitry for driving a load based on an input signal, comprising: at least one variable boost stage comprising: first and second input nodes configured to receive a first voltage and a second voltage respectively; first and second flying capacitor nodes for connection to a flying capacitor therebetween; a network of switching paths for selectively connecting the first and second input nodes with the first and second flying capacitor nodes; an output stage for selectively connecting a driver output node to each of the first and second flying capacitor nodes; and a controller operable in a first boost mode to: control the output stage to selectively connect the driver output node to the first flying capacitor node; control the network of switching paths to switch connection of the second flying capacitor node between the first and second input nodes at a controlled duty cycle; and in a first charge top-up cycle, control the network of switching paths to connect the first input node to the first flying capacitor node during a phase of the controlled duty cycle in which the first input node is connected to the second flying capacitor node; wherein the frequency of the controlled duty cycle is greater than the frequency of the charge top-up cycle.

Power conversion device for supplying a load with a PWM signal, comprising an inductive filter having at least an output configured to be connected to the load, the device comprising: a power conversion module supplied by an input voltage and configured for providing a plurality of output signals wherein one of the plurality of output signals is supplied to the filter; a conversion ratio control stage coupled to the power conversion module; and a controller configured to: determine a requested conversion ratio based on the input voltage and a target reference voltage; and based on the requested conversion ratio, control the conversion ratio control stage to operate in either a first operating mode, whereby the power conversion module provides the output signals in accordance with a first conversion ratio, or a second operating mode, whereby the power conversion module provides the output signals in accordance with a second conversion ratio.

Power conversion device for supplying a load with a PWM signal, comprising an inductive filter having at least an output configured to be connected to the load, the device comprising: a power conversion module supplied by an input voltage and configured for providing a plurality of output signals wherein one of the plurality of output signals is supplied to the filter; a conversion ratio control stage coupled to the power conversion module; and a controller configured to: determine a requested conversion ratio based on the input voltage and a target reference voltage; and based on the requested conversion ratio, control the conversion ratio control stage to operate in either a first operating mode, whereby the power conversion module provides the output signals in accordance with a first conversion ratio, or a second operating mode, whereby the power conversion module provides the output signals in accordance with a second conversion ratio.

An impedance circuit for a charge pump arrangement and a charge pump arrangement are disclosed. In an embodiment, the impedance circuit includes a first current mirror circuit with a first bias serving as a current input terminal, a first output serving as a current output terminal and a first input for coupling with a pre-selected potential. The impedance circuit further includes a first charge pump for biasing the first current mirror circuit with a first reference current, wherein the first charge pump includes a first biasing output coupled with the first bias of the first current mirror circuit.

An impedance circuit for a charge pump arrangement and a charge pump arrangement are disclosed. In an embodiment, the impedance circuit includes a first current mirror circuit with a first bias serving as a current input terminal, a first output serving as a current output terminal and a first input for coupling with a pre-selected potential. The impedance circuit further includes a first charge pump for biasing the first current mirror circuit with a first reference current, wherein the first charge pump includes a first biasing output coupled with the first bias of the first current mirror circuit.

Cycle timing of a charge pump is adapted according to monitoring of operating characteristics of a charge pump and/or peripheral elements coupled to the charge pump. In some examples, this adaptation provides maximum or near maximum cycle times while avoiding violation of predefine constraints (e.g., operating limits) in the charge pump and/or peripheral elements.

Cycle timing of a charge pump is adapted according to monitoring of operating characteristics of a charge pump and/or peripheral elements coupled to the charge pump. In some examples, this adaptation provides maximum or near maximum cycle times while avoiding violation of predefine constraints (e.g., operating limits) in the charge pump and/or peripheral elements.

A bias generation method or apparatus defined by any one or any practical combination of numerous features that contribute to low noise and/or high efficiency biasing, including: having a charge pump control clock output with a waveform having limited harmonic content or distortion compared to a sine wave; having a ring oscillator to generating a charge pump clock that includes inverters current limited by cascode devices and achieves substantially rail-to-rail output amplitude; having a differential ring oscillator with optional startup and/or phase locking features to produce two phase outputs suitably matched and in adequate phase opposition; having a ring oscillator of less than five stages generating a charge pump clock; capacitively coupling the clock output(s) to some or all of the charge transfer capacitor switches; biasing an FET, which is capacitively coupled to a drive signal, to a bias voltage via an “active bias resistor” circuit that conducts between output terminals only during portions of a waveform appearing between the terminals, and/or wherein the bias voltage is generated by switching a small capacitance at cycles of said waveform. A threshold voltage bias voltage generation circuit may A charge pump for the bias generation may include a regulating feedback loop including an OTA that is also suitable for other uses, the OTA having a ratio-control input that controls a current mirror ratio in a differential amplifier over a continuous range, and optionally has differential outputs including an inverting output produced by a second differential amplifier that optionally includes a variable ratio current mirror controlled by the same ratio-control input. The ratio-control input may therefore control a common mode voltage of the differential outputs of the OTA. A control loop around the OTA may be configured to control the ratio of one or more variable ratio current mirrors, which may particularly control the output common mode voltage, and may control it such that the inverting output level tracks the non-inverting output level to cause the amplifier to function as a high-gain integrator.