Method for designing integrated charge pumps with minimum area

Silicon area occupation is a key factor to be minimized when designing integrated charge pumps. In this paper, we propose a method for designing linear charge pumps with minimum area. Starting from the electrical design specifications (i.e. the minimum output voltage that the charge pump must provide for a given maximum output current), we derive a relation between the operating frequency and the total capacitance needed for the charge pump. Furthermore, we discuss some design trade-offs and illustrate a procedure for selecting the operating frequency and the corresponding size of capacitors and switches to keep the area to a minimum.