Two-Stage Voltage Regulation for IC Power Loss Compensation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing voltage regulator arrangements for integrated circuits are inefficient, leading to increased cost, complexity, and power loss, as they often require provisioning for maximum electrical power demands, resulting in suboptimal performance and reduced battery life in devices.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a single external voltage regulator and multiple integrated voltage regulators on the chip, dynamically configurable to provide variable output voltages, with a controller using an integrated voltage regulator power loss model to compensate for power losses by adjusting operating points, thereby optimizing power delivery to subsets of circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single-stage array of external buck regulators is used to supply electrical power to each partition, then dynamic voltage selection for each partition is enabled, but the buck regulators operate at inefficient lower currents and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic voltage selectionVSAvoidpower efficiency loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The voltage regulation function is segmented into two stages: an external first stage buck regulator that provides a fixed intermediate voltage, and multiple integrated second stage buck regulators on the chip that provide dynamically selectable voltages to different partitions. This segmentation allows the external regulator to operate at higher efficient currents while the integrated regulators handle fine-grained voltage control at lower currents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution merges external voltage regulation with integrated voltage regulation in a two-stage architecture. The external buck regulator and integrated buck regulators work together, with the external regulator handling the bulk power conversion and the integrated regulators providing partition-specific voltage control. This combination achieves both efficiency and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single-stage array of external buck regulators is used for each partition, then dynamic voltage selection is achieved, but circuit board and package cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic voltage selectionVSAvoidcircuit board and package cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The solution merges external voltage regulation with integrated voltage regulation in a two-stage architecture. The external buck regulator and integrated buck regulators work together, with the external regulator handling the bulk power conversion and the integrated regulators providing partition-specific voltage control. This combination achieves both efficiency and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The external first stage buck regulator serves multiple partitions simultaneously by providing a fixed intermediate voltage to all integrated second stage regulators. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate external regulators for each partition, thereby reducing circuit board and package complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of energy

If two stages of voltage regulators are used with external first stage and integrated second stage, then current provisioning is optimized for realistic scenarios, but the second stage regulators become complex and costly to integrate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent provisioning efficiencyVSAvoidintegration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The voltage regulation function is segmented into two stages: an external first stage buck regulator that provides a fixed intermediate voltage, and multiple integrated second stage buck regulators on the chip that provide dynamically selectable voltages to different partitions. This segmentation allows the external regulator to operate at higher efficient currents while the integrated regulators handle fine-grained voltage control at lower currents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10560022B2Setting operating points for circuits in an integrated circuit chip using an integrated voltage regulator power loss model

Publication Date: 2020.02.11 ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES INC

AI summary

An apparatus includes an integrated circuit chip with a set of circuits having two or more subsets of circuits; an external voltage regulator separate from the integrated circuit chip; two or more integrated voltage regulators on the integrated circuit chip that each provide an input voltage to a respective subset of the circuits; and a controller. The controller determines, using an integrated voltage regulator power loss model, an electrical power loss for the integrated voltage regulators for a first combination of operating points for the subsets of the circuits. The controller then determines, based on the electrical power loss, a second combination of operating points for the subsets of the circuits that includes an adjustment to an operating point for at least one of the subsets of the circuits that compensates for an electrical power loss of the corresponding integrated voltage regulator. The controller sets an operating point of each of the subsets of the circuits based on the second combination of operating points.