Multi-port extension for multi-rail point-to-point power management interfaces

An electronic system, comprising:

• a plurality of electrical loads, each of which is configured to be powered by one or more independent voltage rails, each regulated at a defined voltage level;
• a plurality of ports, each of which is configured for point-to-point communication over a serial communication power management bus with single and multiple voltage rail support, each port being dedicated to the serial communication power management bus for which that port is configured, the electronic system having fewer ports than voltage rails;
• and
• configuration logic operable to flexibly assign each electrical load to one of the ports based on configuration information stored in or provided to the electronic system, so that each electrical load communicates over the serial communication power management bus to which the port assigned to that electrical load is dedicated.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a point-to-point power management interface comprising a plurality of serial communication power management buses, each of which is configured for point-to-point communication with single and multiple voltage rail support;
• a power converter system comprising:
• a plurality of power converters, each of which is operable to output an independent voltage rail regulated at a defined voltage level;
• a plurality of ports, each of which is dedicated to one of the plurality of serial communication power management buses, the power converter system having fewer ports than voltage rails;
• and
• configuration logic operable to flexibly assign each power converter to one of the ports of the power converter system based on configuration information stored in or provided to the power converter system, so that each power converter communicates over the serial communication power management bus to which the port assigned to that power converter is dedicated;
• and
• an electronic system comprising:
• a plurality of electrical loads each of which is configured to be powered by at least one of the voltage rails provided by the power converter system;
• a plurality of ports each, of which is dedicated to one of the plurality of serial communication power management buses, the electronic system having fewer ports than voltage rails;
• and
• configuration logic operable to flexibly assign each electrical load to one of the ports of the electronic system based on configuration information stored in or provided to the electronic system, so that each electrical load communicates over the serial communication power management bus to which the port assigned to that electrical load is dedicated.