Capacitor charge redistribution and voltage calculation

Wang Youfa
Switch capacitor circuits have been extensively used in CMOS IC and power electronics IC and
circuits, for example, capacitor charge distribution based SAR-DAC and power IGBT driver
circuits. To understand the operation principle of these kinds of circuits, it is necessary to know the
analysis technique of the charge redistribution capacitor. Here we try to show the technique of
analysis the charge distribution related capacitor.
Analysis of the capacitor circuit without charge redistribution can be quite easy and there are a lot
of textbooks talking about the analysis technique. Fig.1 shows a simple capacitors circuit, there is
a voltage source V1, and two capacitor c1 and c2, which are in series. The voltage at point x can
be easily decided as the following,

Fig.1 Capacitor in series

Since C1 and C2 are in series, charges in C1 and C2 should be the same, so we have

Vx C2 = (V1 V x )C1

(1)

Where V x C2 is charges in capacitor C2 while (V1 V x )C1 is charges in capacitor C1,

Eq.(1) gives,

Vx =

C1
V1
C1 + C 2

Therefore, the voltage at point x is V x =

C1
V1 .
C1 + C 2

This kind of technique is not easily applied in the case where charge distribution involved. Here,
we would like to introduce another analysis technique--- Charge conservation.
We take Fig.1 as an example. Total charges in the top plate of C2 and bottom plate of C1 are zero,
because point x in the circuit are not physically connected to any voltage source or ground. Before

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C1 and C2 are charged, the total charges on the top plate of C2 and bottom plate of C1 is zero.
After charged, the total charges in the top plate of C2 and bottom plate of C1 should keep zero.
According the polarity in Fig.1, The charges on top plate C2 is positive and it is, V x C 2 . The
charges bottom plate C1 is negative and it is, (V1 V x )C1 . So that, the total charge is:

V x C 2 + ((V1 V x )C1 ) . Considering charger conservation, we have the following equation:

0 = V x C 2 + ((V1 V x )C1 )

(2)

Eq.(2) gives,

Vx =

C1
V1 . It is the same as the results by using the traditional analysis technique.
C1 + C 2

In the following, we will apply this analysis technique the charge redistribution examples.
Example-1: Fig.2 shows a switched capacitor circuit. Firstly, switch k1 is close and switch k2 is
open. After c1 and c2 are fully charged, switch k1 is open and k2 turns close, then what is the
voltage at Point A?
A

V1

K1

C1

C2

V2

K11

K2

Fig.2 switch capacitor circuits

1) Switch K1 and K11 are close and k2 is open. The circuit can be redrawn as Fig.2a. Voltage
source V1 is charging capacitor C1 and C2.
A

+
V1

Q2

Q1

C1

C2
-

+
-

V2
K2

2011 Dec. Version.1 wang Youfa

Fig.2a Simplified circuit of Fig.2

According to polarity marked in Fig.2a, the charges in top plate of C1 and C2 are respectively,

Q1 = V1C1 , and Q 2 = V1C2

The total charge of top plate is positive and it is V1C1 + V1C 2
2) Switch k1 is open , and switch K2 is close. The equivalent circuit of Fig.2 is shown as Fig.2b,
A
+ Q1
C1

C2

Q2

V2

Fig.2b simplified circuit of Fig.2 when switch k1 is open and k2 is close

According to the polarity in Fig.2b, Charge in top plate of C2 is positive and it is V A C 2 ; Charge in
top plate of C1 is positive and it is (V A V2 )C1 . So the total charge in top plate is

V A C 2 + (V A V2 )C1
Since A is floating, the charges on the top plate of C1 and C2 cant be discharged, as a result, the
total charges on the top plate of capacitor C1 and C2 are unchanged, it is V1C1 + V1C 2 . So that,
we have

V 1(C1 + C 2) = V AC 2 + (V A V2 )C1 , as a result, we have,

VA = V 1 +

C1
V2
C1 + C 2

Therefore, the voltage at point A is V A = V 1 +

If V1=0, we have V A =

C1
V2 .
C1 + C 2

C1
V2 . It is the same as the series capacitor voltage divider.
C1 + C 2

Example-2 Fig.3 shows a simple switched capacitor based SAR-DAC.

1) Switch Ka closes, k0 to K4 close to capacitors and Kb closes to V1. then the circuit can
be simplified as Fig.3a

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Kb
K0

K1

K2

K3

C/2

C/4

C/8

K4

C/8
B

V1

Vr

Ka

Fig.3 SAR-ADC based on switch capacitor

2C
A

V1

Fig.3a simplified SAR-ADC

So V1 charges a 2C capacitor. According to the polarity in Fig.3a, the charge on plate A is
negative and it is 2CV1

2) Kb close to Vr, Ka open, the rest switches close to GND, the equivalent circuit of Fig.3
is shown as Fig.3b
2C
-

+
A

Fig.3b simplified SAR-ADC

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According to the polarity in Fig.3b, the charge in plate A is 2CVb . Because plate A is
floating, the charge must maintain the same, so

2CVb = 2CV1 ,
It gives, Vb = V1
3) k0 switch to capacitor, ka open, kb maintains to Vr, k1 k2 and k3 maintains to GND, so
the equivalent circuit of Fig.3 is as shown in Fig.3c.

+
A

+C
-

Vr

Fig.3c simplified Fig.3

According to the polarity in Fig.3c, the charge in plate A is (Vb Vr )C + Vb C . Since the total
charge maintains unchanged, we have

(Vb Vr )C + Vb C = 2CV1 ,
It gives, Vb = V1 +

Vr
.
2

If the polarities are assumed as the following Fig.3d, according to the polarity in Fig.3d,

Vr

-C
+

Fig.3d simplified Fig.3

the charge on plate A is [(Vr Vb )C + (0 Vb )C ] . Since the charge maintains to be 2CV1 ,
so that

[(Vr Vb )C + (0 Vb )C ] = 2CV1 ,

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It also gives, Vb = V1 +

Vr
. The assumption of the polarity doesnt affect the final results.
2

Example-3. Fig.4 shown a simplified MOSFET derive IGBT circuit. Vcc is positive voltage for
gate of IGBT, while Vee is negative, which ensure IGBT is off when MOSFET M1 is off and
MOSFET M2 is on.

Vcc
M1
Rg

Va

M2

Vee
(b)

Vcc

Vcc

M1
Rg

M1

M2

Vee

Rg

Vee

M2

(c)

(a)

Fig.4 MOSFET driving IGBT circuit

1) M1 is off, and M2 is on, the equivalent circuit is as FIG.4a. Voltage between output pins of
MOSFET M1 is VM1 =Vcc +Vee, and Voltage between output pins of MOSFET M2. VM2 =0.
Equivalent circuit is shown in Fig.5a

+
M1

Cm1

Vcc

Rg -

Cg
M2

Vee

Fig.5a simplified circuits of Fig.4a

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According to the polarity in Fig.5a, charge at point A is (Vee + Vcc )C m1 + Vee C g

2) MOSFET M2 turns off, both M1 and M2 are in off status as shown in Fig.4b. the
equivalent circuit is shown in Fig.5b.

+
M1

Cm1

Vcc
Rg -

+
Cg

Cm2

M2

Vee

Fig.5b simplified circuits of Fig.4b

According

to

the

polarities

In

Fig.5b,

(Vee + Vcc Va )C m1 + (Vee Va )C g + (0 Va )C m 2

charge

as

point

is,

Since charge at A is unchanged, we have,

] [

(Vee + Vcc Va )C m1 + (Vee Va )C g + (0 Va )C m 2 = (Vcc + Vee )C m1 + Vee C g ,

It gives,

Va = 0 . So there is no charge redistribution after M2 switches off , as a result, the voltage

drops over IGBT gate and MOSFET dont change.
3) M1 is on, and M2 is off, the equivalent circuit is as FIG.4c. simplified circuit is shown in Fig.5c

Vcc

M1
Rg +

A
+
M2

Cg

Cm2

Vee

Fig.5c simplified circuits of Fig.4c

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According to polarity in Fig.5c, charge in plate A is,

C m 2 (Vcc + Vee ) + C g Vcc .

4) MOSFET M2 turns off, both M1 and M2 are in off status as shown in Fig.4b. the equivalent
circuit is shown in Fig.5b.

(Vee + Vcc Va )C m1 + (Vee Va )C g + (0 Va )C m 2 = C m 2 (Vcc + Vee ) + C g Vcc ,

It gives, Va = Vcc + Vee . So the voltage drops on IGBT gate and Mosfet 2 are unchanged. There
is no charge redistribution.

2011 Dec. Version.1 wang Youfa