Tradeoff analysis and optimization of power delivery networks with on-chip voltage regulation

Zhiyu Zeng, Xiaoji Ye, Zhuo Feng, Peng Li

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Integrating a large number of on-chip voltage regulators holds the promise of solving many power delivery challenges through strong local load regulation and facilitates systemlevel power management. The quantitative understanding of such complex power delivery networks (PDNs) is hampered by the large network complexity and interactions between passive on-die/package-level circuits and a multitude of nonlinear active regulators. We develop a fast combined GPU-CPU analysis engine encompassing several simulation strategies, optimized for various subcomponents of the network. Using accurate quantitative analysis, we demonstrate the significant performance improvement brought by onchip low-dropout regulators (LDOs) in terms of suppressing high-frequency local voltage droops and avoiding the mid-frequency resonance caused by off-chip inductive parasitics. We perform comprehensive analysis on the tradeoffs among overhead of on-chip LDOs, maximum voltage droop and overall power efficiency. We conduct systematic design optimization by developing a simulation-based nonlinear optimization strategy that determines the optimal number of on-chip LDOs required and on-board input voltage, and the corresponding voltage droop and power efficiency for PDNs with multiple power domains.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 47th Design Automation Conference, DAC '10
Pages831-836
Number of pages6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
Event47th Design Automation Conference, DAC '10 - Anaheim, CA, United States
Duration: 13 Jun 201018 Jun 2010

Publication series

NameProceedings - Design Automation Conference
ISSN (Print)0738-100X

Conference

Conference47th Design Automation Conference, DAC '10
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAnaheim, CA
Period13/06/1018/06/10

Keywords

  • Low-dropout regulator
  • On-chip voltage regulation
  • Power delivery network
  • Power efficiency

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