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Title: Charge-pump voltage converter

Abstract

A charge-pump voltage converter for converting a low voltage provided by a low-voltage source to a higher voltage. Charge is inductively generated on a transfer rotor electrode during its transit past an inductor stator electrode and subsequently transferred by the rotating rotor to a collector stator electrode for storage or use. Repetition of the charge transfer process leads to a build-up of voltage on a charge-receiving device. Connection of multiple charge-pump voltage converters in series can generate higher voltages, and connection of multiple charge-pump voltage converters in parallel can generate higher currents. Microelectromechanical (MEMS) embodiments of this invention provide a small and compact high-voltage (several hundred V) voltage source starting with a few-V initial voltage source. The microscale size of many embodiments of this invention make it ideally suited for MEMS- and other micro-applications where integration of the voltage or charge source in a small package is highly desirable.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
971526
Patent Number(s):
7612541
Application Number:
11/835,046
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02N - ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION

Citation Formats

Brainard, John P, and Christenson, Todd R. Charge-pump voltage converter. United States: N. p., 2009. Web.
Brainard, John P, & Christenson, Todd R. Charge-pump voltage converter. United States.
Brainard, John P, and Christenson, Todd R. Tue . "Charge-pump voltage converter". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/971526.
@article{osti_971526,
title = {Charge-pump voltage converter},
author = {Brainard, John P and Christenson, Todd R},
abstractNote = {A charge-pump voltage converter for converting a low voltage provided by a low-voltage source to a higher voltage. Charge is inductively generated on a transfer rotor electrode during its transit past an inductor stator electrode and subsequently transferred by the rotating rotor to a collector stator electrode for storage or use. Repetition of the charge transfer process leads to a build-up of voltage on a charge-receiving device. Connection of multiple charge-pump voltage converters in series can generate higher voltages, and connection of multiple charge-pump voltage converters in parallel can generate higher currents. Microelectromechanical (MEMS) embodiments of this invention provide a small and compact high-voltage (several hundred V) voltage source starting with a few-V initial voltage source. The microscale size of many embodiments of this invention make it ideally suited for MEMS- and other micro-applications where integration of the voltage or charge source in a small package is highly desirable.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2009},
month = {11}
}