Shared Redundant Voltage Phases for Multi-Domain Power Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of processors in computing systems increases, maintaining N+1 or N+2 redundancy for core voltage domains becomes challenging due to space and routing constraints, as each processor requires its own redundancy phases, leading to increased space and cost.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with shared redundant voltage phases that are coupled to switches, allowing them to be selectively connected to multiple voltage domains, thereby reducing the number of physical redundant phases required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each processor is provided with its own dedicated redundancy phases, then system reliability is improved, but space and routing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling each redundant voltage regulator phase to serve multiple processors through switchable connections. Instead of dedicating one redundant phase per processor, the system allows a single redundant phase to be dynamically assigned to different processors based on failure detection, thereby reducing the total number of redundant phases needed while maintaining N+1 redundancy coverage across all processors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic reconfiguration capability through switches that can be controlled by a controller to reconnect voltage regulators to different processors. This dynamic switching allows the system to adapt to failures in real-time, redirecting power supply paths from failed processors to operational ones, thus maintaining system reliability without requiring static dedicated redundancy for each processor.
2Reliability
If each processor has dedicated redundancy phases, then system reliability is improved, but routing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling each redundant voltage regulator phase to serve multiple processors through switchable connections. Instead of dedicating one redundant phase per processor, the system allows a single redundant phase to be dynamically assigned to different processors based on failure detection, thereby reducing the total number of redundant phases needed while maintaining N+1 redundancy coverage across all processors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces switches as intermediary components between voltage regulators and processors. These switches act as mediators that can be controlled to redirect power supply paths dynamically. The controller manages the switches to detect failures and reconfigure connections, simplifying the routing architecture by using a centralized control mechanism rather than dedicated hardwired redundancy paths for each processor.
3Productivity
If more processors are added to increase compute performance, then system compute performance is improved, but maintaining redundancy becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling each redundant voltage regulator phase to serve multiple processors through switchable connections. Instead of dedicating one redundant phase per processor, the system allows a single redundant phase to be dynamically assigned to different processors based on failure detection, thereby reducing the total number of redundant phases needed while maintaining N+1 redundancy coverage across all processors.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein describe a switchable redundant voltage regulator (referred to herein as a redundant phase) that can be attached to multiple different power domains. Instead of providing a redundant phase for every load or voltage domain in a computing system, the embodiments herein describe sharing redundant phases between voltage domains. Thus, if a primary phase serving any one of the phase fails, the switch can be controlled to connect the redundant phase to the corresponding voltage domain. In this manner, the redundant phase is a shared phase for a plurality of voltage domains.