Switched-capacitor Dc-dc Converters for Low-power On-chip Applications

The paper describes switched-capacitor dc-dc converters (charge pumps) suitable for on-chip, low-power applications. The proposed configurations are based on connecting two identical but opposite-phase SC converters in parallel, thus eliminating the need for separate bootstrap gate drivers. We focus on emerging very low-power VLSI applications such as batterypowered or self-powered signal processors where high power conversion efficiency is important and where power levels are in the milliwatt range. Conduction and switching losses are considered to allow design optimization in terms of switching frequency and component sizes. Open-loop and closed-loop operation of an experimental, fully integrated, 10MHz voltage doubler is described. The doubler has 2V or 3V input and generates 3.3V or 5V output at up to 5mW load. The converter circuit fabricated in a standard 1.2μ CMOS technology takes 0.7mm of the chip area.