Single-Rail FPGA Power Delivery with Distributed Voltage Regulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuit devices face inefficiencies in power delivery due to the placement of voltage regulators outside programmable logic devices, leading to increased package size and complexity, and the use of multiple power rails results in higher BGA ball counts and material costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a single power rail with distributed voltage regulators within components like I/O blocks, programmable logic regions, and cores, reducing the number of power rails and BGA balls, and using die-side capacitors to adjust voltage levels for efficient power delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If voltage regulators are placed outside programmable logic devices, then routing density within the programmable logic device is reduced, but the distance between components and voltage regulators increases resulting in inefficient power delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the voltage regulator functionality into multiple distributed regulators placed within different components (I/O blocks, programmable logic regions, cores) rather than using a single external regulator. This segmentation allows each component to receive power locally, reducing delivery distance and improving efficiency while maintaining routing density benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage regulators are nested within the programmable logic device components themselves (I/O blocks, logic regions, cores), with each component containing its own voltage regulator. This nesting eliminates the need for external regulators while maintaining compact routing, as the regulators are integrated inside the components they serve.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple power rails are used to provide different voltage levels to different components, then voltage requirements of various components are met, but the number of BGA balls and package size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter by using a single high-voltage power rail (e.g., 3.3V) to power all distributed voltage regulators, which then locally convert to the required lower voltage levels (e.g., 1.8V, 1.2V, 0.9V) for different components. This eliminates the need for multiple input power rails while maintaining support for multiple output voltage levels through the regulators' conversion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single high-voltage power rail serves as a universal power source for all distributed voltage regulators throughout the device. Each regulator then performs the function of voltage conversion to the specific level required by its associated component, making the single power rail universally applicable to all components regardless of their specific voltage requirements.
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 reduces package size, material costs, and IR drop losses while improving power delivery efficiency and flexibility by using a single power rail with on-die voltage regulators.
Implementation Method 1
respective voltage regulators are configured to adjust a received voltage to a target voltage level
Data Source
AI summary
Systems or methods of the present disclosure may relate to integrated circuits, such field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The present disclosure includes an integrated circuit including one or more sectors of programmable logic circuitry, one or more I/O blocks respectively positioned proximate to the one or more sectors of programmable logic circuitry, and one or more voltage regulators. Each I/O block of the one or more I/O blocks includes a voltage regulator of the one or more voltage regulators. The voltage regulator may include one or more regulator phases that adjust voltage from a single power rail to a voltage level usable by the component. For example, the voltage regulator may turn on or off any suitable number of regulator phases to adjust the voltage to a suitable voltage level.