XPU Power Supply Layout With Staggered Two-Stage Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
The two-stage power supply architecture for servers with 48V input voltage faces challenges in reducing current density and delivery loss due to the long distances between power supply modules and the load, leading to inefficiencies in power delivery.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system with a staggered layout configuration where preceding-stage and post-stage power supply regions are arranged around the load region in an axisymmetric or centrosymmetric manner, with power modules cascaded to reduce intermediate bus current density and delivery path loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If power modules are placed far from the load to accommodate other components, then device complexity is reduced, but delivery loss increases due to longer traces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-plane layout to a three-dimensional stacked architecture where preceding-stage and post-stage power supply modules are positioned on different layers. This vertical arrangement shortens the horizontal trace length while maintaining spatial separation of components, effectively reducing delivery path loss without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested power supply architecture where post-stage power supply modules are positioned within the vertical projection area of preceding-stage modules, creating a layered nested structure. This nesting reduces the overall footprint and shortens delivery paths by placing power conversion stages closer to the load in the vertical dimension
2Loss of energy
If power modules are placed close to the load, then delivery loss is reduced, but the region available for arranging modules becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by stacking power supply modules on multiple layers of the PCB. This allows modules to be positioned close to the load in the horizontal plane while accommodating multiple modules by distributing them across different vertical layers, effectively increasing the available arrangement space without increasing the footprint
3Use of energy by moving object
If input voltage is increased from 12V to 48V, then power efficiency is improved, but current density and delivery loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single-stage power conversion into two sequential stages: a preceding-stage module that performs initial voltage conversion and a post-stage module that performs final voltage regulation near the load. This segmentation allows the high-voltage 48V input to be converted to an intermediate voltage in the first stage, then to the final low voltage in the second stage, reducing current density and delivery loss throughout the power distribution network
Data Source
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Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
The present invention discloses a power supply system and a power supply method. The power supply system includes: a load region (501), a load disposed in the load region (501), at least two preceding-stage power supply regions (502, 504) disposed around the load region (501), preceding-stage power modules (FE1, FE2, ..., FEn) disposed in the at least two preceding-stage power supply regions (502, 504), at least two post-stage power supply regions (503, 505) disposed around the load region(501), and post-stage power modules (BE1, BE2, ..., BEn) disposed in the at least two post-stage power supply regions (503, 505). The at least two preceding-stage power supply regions (502, 504) and the at least two post-stage power supply regions (503, 505) are arranged in a staggered manner. The preceding-stage power module (FE1, FE2, ..., FEn) and the post-stage power module (BE1, BE2, ..., BEn) are cascaded to supply power to the load.