Open AccessPower distribution network design with split and merged power rails
Author(s) -
Chew Li Wern
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
iet circuits, devices and systems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.251
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1751-8598
pISSN - 1751-858X
DOI - 10.1049/iet-cds.2013.0197
Subject(s) - decoupling (probability) , decoupling capacitor , power (physics) , switched mode power supply , power factor , switched mode power supply applications , microprocessor , electronic engineering , voltage , capacitor , power supply rejection ratio , chip , engineering , computer science , electrical engineering , noise (video) , constant power circuit , control engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , image (mathematics)
In a power distribution network design, it is always desirable to have a clean, undistorted power supply from the voltage source to each of the functional blocks in a microprocessor in order for the chip to function properly. Although a large individual power rails supply is generally preferred, it is usually not feasible in a real‐world design due to form factor limitation and cost constraint. Power rails merging not only allows the option for decoupling capacitors sharing, but also reduces the number of voltage sources needed in the designed system. However, by merging power rails, coupling noise is generated between the functional blocks that share the same voltage source. In this study, a study on power rails merger option is carried out based on two aspects: the load current characteristics and the power noise tolerances of the functional blocks being merged.