High-voltage pump with initiation scheme

摘要

A high voltage pump with an initiation scheme to achieve voltages above VDD. In response to a pulse signal, an initiation voltage is placed on a first node (515) of a voltage pump to initiate pumping action. The initiation voltage is passed through a transistor (545) coupled between a high voltage output node (415) and the first node (515) of the voltage pump. The first node (515) is coupled through a capacitor (510) to an oscillator (405) which charges the first node (515). A high voltage is produced at the high voltage output node (415). The initiation scheme may be applied to one-stage and multiple-stage voltage pumps.