Host-Follower Power Converter Scaling for Thermal Current Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power converter circuit designs are limited by thermal budgets, packaging requirements, and input voltages, leading to inefficiencies and limited scalability for higher current applications, and they struggle to adapt to varying load current demands across different platforms.
Innovation Solution
A power delivery system employing a host power converter circuit that generates a shared demand current used by multiple follower power converter circuits, allowing easy addition or subtraction of follower circuits to adapt to load current changes, and incorporating a step-down power converter to accommodate higher input voltages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional power converter circuit designs are used, then the circuits can operate at fixed power levels, but they cannot adapt to varying load current demands across different platforms
Solution Approach 1:
The power converter circuit is divided into multiple identical module instances, each capable of operating independently. These modules can be selectively enabled or disabled based on the required power level, allowing the system to adapt to varying load demands without redesigning the entire circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The power converter circuit is designed with universal modules that can serve multiple power delivery functions. The same module design is used across different power levels and configurations, enabling a single circuit architecture to handle varying load current demands across different platforms.
2Power
If multiple reactive circuit elements are used in power converter circuits, then the circuits can perform voltage conversion, but they occupy excessive chip area
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple reactive circuit elements are merged into shared components that serve multiple modules simultaneously. For example, a single inductor or capacitor can be shared among several power converter modules, reducing the total chip area required while maintaining the voltage conversion capability of each module.
Solution Approach 2:
The reactive circuit elements are designed to be universal and shared across multiple power converter modules. The same inductor, capacitor, or transformer can support multiple voltage conversion operations, minimizing the total component count and chip area occupation.
3Power
If power converter circuits are designed for higher current applications, then the power delivery capability is improved, but thermal budgets are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The high current power delivery function is segmented across multiple parallel module instances. Each module handles a portion of the total current, distributing the power dissipation and heat generation across multiple devices. This segmentation prevents any single module from exceeding thermal budgets while maintaining high overall power delivery capability.
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
Enables scalable and efficient power delivery across varying load currents and platforms by using a shared demand current mechanism and a step-down converter, maintaining efficiency and flexibility in power converter circuit designs.
Implementation Method 1
a first power converter circuit coupled to a converter power supply node via a first inductor and configured to source a particular current to the converter power supply node using a voltage level of an input power supply node
Data Source
AI summary
A power delivery system included in a computer system uses multiple power converter circuits to generate respective voltage levels on multiple power supply nodes. An embodiment of the power delivery system includes an input power converter circuit that generates a voltage level for use by host and follower power converter circuits. The host power converter circuit generates an external demand current that is shared by multiple follower power converter circuits to regulate the voltage level on the multiple power supply nodes. The power delivery system can be scaled to different platforms of the computer system by adjusting the number of follower power converter circuits.