Cross-Domain Voltage Regulators for Semiconductor Power Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional semiconductor packages require domain voltage regulators (VRs) to be rated for peak power demands, leading to inefficient resource utilization and larger component sizes, as not all domains operate at peak power simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

Implementing cross-domain VRs that allow power sharing between domains via a common power bus, enabling domain VRs to be rated lower than peak power requirements, with cross-domain VRs handling partial power and using different process technologies to optimize efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If domain voltage regulators are rated for peak power demands, then power supply reliability is ensured, but resource utilization becomes inefficient and component sizes increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply reliabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements cross-domain voltage regulators that can serve multiple domains simultaneously. A single VR rated for peak power can supply power to multiple domains through cross-domain coupling, allowing the same hardware resource to fulfill multiple functions and serve different domains during their respective peak power periods, thereby improving resource utilization while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Power

If domain voltage regulators are rated for peak power demands, then maximum power requirements are met, but component sizes and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaximum power handling capabilityVSAvoidcomponent size

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple domain VRs into a shared cross-domain VR infrastructure. Instead of having separate VRs for each domain, the system combines resources by allowing a single VR or fewer VRs to serve multiple domains through cross-domain power sharing, reducing the total number of components and their associated area requirements while maintaining peak power capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If individual domain VRs handle all power demands, then domain independence is maintained, but thermal management becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedomain independenceVSAvoidthermal management difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces cross-domain VRs as intermediary components between domains. These intermediary VRs enable power sharing and load balancing across domains, distributing thermal loads more evenly across the system rather than concentrating them in individual domain VRs, thereby improving thermal management while preserving domain independence through controlled power routing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11353900B2Integrated cross-domain power transfer voltage regulators

Publication Date: 2022.06.07 INTEL CORP

AI summary

An apparatus is provided, where the apparatus includes a first domain including first one or more circuitries, and a second domain including second one or more circuitries. The apparatus may further include a first voltage regulator (VR) to supply power to the first domain from a power bus, a second VR to supply power to the second domain from the power bus, and a third VR coupled between the first and second domains. The third VR may at least one of: transmit power to at least one of the first or second domains, or receive power from at least one of the first or second domains.