A resonant switched-capacitor converter with GaN transistors for series-stacked processors with 99.8% power delivery efficiency

Andrew Stillwell, Robert Carl Nikolai Pilawa Podgurski

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The series-stacked architecture provides a method to increase power delivery efficiency to multiple processors. With a series-stack, Differential Power Processing (DPP) is needed to ensure that processor voltages remain within design limits as the individual loads vary. This work demonstrates a switched-capacitor (SC) converter to balance a stack of four ARM® Cortex-A8 based embedded computers. We investigate hard-switched and resonant modes of operation in a ladder SC DPP converter, implemented with GaN transistors. Excellent 5 V regulation of each embedded computer is demonstrated in a 4-series-stack configuration, with realistic computational work loads. Moreover, we demonstrate hot-swapping of individual computers with maintained voltage regulation at all nodes. A peak stack power delivery of 99.8% is demonstrated, and DPP switching frequencies from 250kHz to 2MHz.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2015 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2015
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages563-570
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781467371506
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 27 2015
Event7th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2015 - Montreal, Canada
Duration: Sep 20 2015Sep 24 2015

Publication series

Name2015 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2015

Other

Other7th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2015
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityMontreal
Period9/20/159/24/15

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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