Cross-domain Voltage Bus Resource Sharing for Power Delivery Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power delivery networks (PDNs) for integrated circuits face challenges in stabilizing supply voltages due to voltage transients, which can impact core operations and require additional decoupling capacitors, increasing chip, package, and PCB area.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a cross-domain voltage bus resource sharing mechanism, where a bus resource can be selectively coupled to multiple voltage buses, allowing temporary resource borrowing from one voltage bus to another to mitigate voltage transients without increasing the number of decoupling capacitors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional decoupling capacitors are added to stabilize supply voltages, then voltage transient mitigation is improved, but chip area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupling capacitor is designed to serve multiple voltage buses sequentially rather than being dedicated to a single bus. The capacitor can be dynamically connected to different voltage buses based on which bus experiences voltage transients, allowing one capacitor to perform the decoupling function for multiple buses, thereby reducing the total number of capacitors needed and minimizing chip area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching mechanisms that allow the decoupling capacitor to change its connection state in real-time. Control circuits monitor voltage conditions on multiple buses and dynamically route the capacitor to the bus that needs transient mitigation, making the power delivery network adaptive rather than static. This dynamic reconfiguration enables resource sharing and reduces the need for dedicated capacitors for each bus.
2Reliability
If more decoupling capacitors are used to mitigate voltage transients, then power delivery stability is improved, but package area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupling capacitor serves multiple voltage buses sequentially across different operating conditions. By designing the capacitor with multiple connection paths to different voltage buses, a single capacitor can provide stabilization for multiple buses, reducing the total capacitor count and minimizing package area requirements while maintaining power delivery stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the function of multiple dedicated decoupling capacitors into a single shared capacitor that can be dynamically allocated to different voltage buses. This consolidation approach combines the stabilization function for multiple buses into one component, reducing both the number of components and the overall package area while maintaining the necessary power delivery stability.
3Reliability
If additional decoupling capacitors are added to stabilize supply voltages, then PCB area increases, but voltage transient mitigation is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupling capacitor is designed with the capability to be connected to multiple different voltage buses on the PCB through switching mechanisms. This multi-functional design allows a single capacitor to provide voltage transient mitigation for multiple buses sequentially, reducing the total number of capacitors needed and minimizing PCB area while maintaining effective transient mitigation across all buses.
4Reliability
If dedicated decoupling capacitors are assigned to each voltage bus, then voltage stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having dedicated control circuits for each voltage bus, the patent implements a universal control mechanism that manages a shared decoupling capacitor for multiple buses. The control circuit monitors voltage conditions across all buses and intelligently routes the capacitor to where it is needed, reducing the overall control complexity compared to managing multiple independent dedicated capacitors while maintaining voltage stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances voltage transient mitigation in power delivery networks by allowing dynamic resource sharing between voltage buses, improving stability without the need for additional physical capacitors, thus optimizing area usage and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a first set of one or more decoupling capacitors C1 including a top plate or terminal selectively coupled to the first voltage bus Vdd1_BUS 560-1
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, including: a first core; a first voltage bus coupled to the first core; a second core; a second voltage bus coupled to the second core; a bus resource coupled or selectively coupled to the first voltage bus, and selectively coupled to the second voltage bus; and a control circuit configured to: couple the bus resource to the first voltage bus and decouple the bus resource from the second voltage bus based on a first mode; and couple the bus resource to the second voltage bus based on a second mode.