Abstract
Data centers employ powerful application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) that consume significant amounts of current, e.g., up to a thousand amperes, and fluctuate rapidly in their power demand. Due to various factors, e.g., large output impedance, increasing space occupied by decoupling capacitors, etc., the multi-phase voltage regulator that traditionally supplies such loads is reaching the limits of its performance. This disclosure describes a multi-phase trans-inductor voltage regulator (TLVR). The TLVR is such that each of its phases has an output inductor that is the secondary winding of a transformer whose primary windings are all connected in a series loop. The phases are driven by interleaved pulse-width modulated (PWM) waveforms. In the event of a transient in the load, the duty cycle of the PWM waveform of a phase is adjusted such that all phases respond with a changed current. The result is an extremely fast transient response that matches the demands of the load in amperage and bandwidth.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
N/A, "Fast multi-phase trans-inductor voltage regulator", Technical Disclosure Commons, (May 09, 2019)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/2190