Frequency- and Time-Domain Yield Optimization of a Power Delivery Network Subject to Large Decoupling Capacitor Tolerances

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Miniatura

Fecha

2022-03

Autores

Rayas-Sánchez, José E.
Moreno-Mojica, Aurea E.

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Editor

IEEE

Resumen

Descripción

Sub-optimal design of power delivery networks (PDN) may cause performance deterioration and severe functional failures on high-speed computer platforms. Voltage regulators (VR) distribute controlled voltage in the PDN to the active devices, providing a steady power supply at a desired DC voltage level with an acceptable noise level or ripple. Unacceptable voltage drops can be caused by transient switching currents at the devices. Many decoupling capacitors are commonly used to lower the PDN impedance profile in order to reduce power supply noise and to supply fast transient current to switching devices. However, commercially available decoupling capacitors typically present large manufacturing variability. In this paper, we first propose an optimization methodology that gradually finds the best compensation parameter values of a buck converter VR to meet suitable stability criteria. Simultaneously, the number of parallel decoupling capacitors in the PDN is minimized while meeting a frequency-domain impedance profile specification and a time-domain minimum voltage droop requirement under nominal parameter values. Finally, a statistical analysis, yield estimation, and yield optimization of the nominally optimized PDN subject to large decoupling capacitor tolerances is presented. We consider the impedance profile, transient voltage droop, and voltage regulator stability as the responses of interest for yield calculation.

Palabras clave

Decoupling Capacitors, Impedance Profile, Monte Carlo, Noise Control, Power Delivery Network, Signal Integrity, Stability, Statistical Analysis, Voltage Droop, Voltage Regulator, Yield

Citación

A. E. Moreno-Mojica and J. E. Rayas-Sánchez, “Frequency- and time-domain yield optimization of a power delivery network subject to large decoupling capacitor tolerances”, IEEE Trans. Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, early access version. 2022.