One-dimensional adiabatic circuits with inherent charge recycling

A new switching method for the stabilisation of a one-dimensional capacitor array tank for the stepwise charging of a load capacitor is presented. In this method, the tank capacitor configuration is rearranged in a circular manner once the charging process of a load capacitor finishes and before the charging process of a new load capacitor begins. Unlike previously reported methods, this method does not require backward switching for the stabilisation of tank capacitor voltages. Hence, the proposed method reduces the number of charging process steps by a factor of up to 2 compared with the conventional method. Moreover, since the tank recycles its charge inherently, the capacitive load can retain its charge after the charging process finishes without the problem of instability. Systematic MATLAB simulation, post-layout simulation in 0.18 μm technology and a fabricated printed circuit board prove the benefits of the proposed method and the provided analytical derivations.