High frequency power system and related methods

#This invention specifically relates to powering computer systems where switch-mode DC is created to power the internal components of the system. It has particular applicability in new designs where microprocessors have high demands and power changes. Such can relate to the area of powering low voltage, high current electronics. As mentioned, though, the invention is applicable in the field of computing, and much of the following description is presented in that context. It should be understood, however, that other embodiments are in no way limited to the field of computing, and are applicable to a wide variety of circumstances wherein a variety of power absorbing loads which absorb electrical power may abruptly change their power absorbing characteristics (that is to say their impedance may undergo a rapid change). They are also applicable if such loads are separated physically such that the voltage which may be dropped across the dynamic impedance of the power carrying conductors is a significant fraction of the voltage delivered to such loads. They are also increasingly applicable to applications wherein design tradeoffs are forcing a steady decrease in operating voltages. Such situations may arise in telecommunications, radar systems, vehicle power systems and the like, as well as in computing systems. Further, the DC/AC converter itself may have applications in broader and other contexts as well.

#The architecture of computing systems has undergone tremendous changes in the recent past, due principally to the advance of microcomputers from the original four-bit chips running at hundreds of kilohertz to the most modern 32 and 64 bit microprocessors running at hundreds of megahertz. As the chip designers push to higher and higher speeds, problems arise which relate to thermal issues. That is, as the speed of a circuit is increased, the internal logic switches must each discharge its surrounding capacitance that much faster. Since the energy stored in that capacitance is fixed (at a given voltage), as the speed is increased, that energy, which must be dissipated in the switches, is dumped into the switch that many more times per second. Since energy per second is defined as power, the power lost in the switches therefore increases directly with frequency.

#On the other hand, the energy stored in a capacitance increases as the square of the voltage, so a capacitor charged to two volts will store only 44% of the energy stored in that same capacitor charged to three volts. For this reason, a microcomputer designed to operate at two volts will, when run at the same speed, dissipate much less power than the same microprocessor operating a three volts. So there is a tendency to lower the operating voltage of microprocessors.

#FIG. 1-1 shows a conventional computer power delivery system of the prior art.

#FIG. 1-2 is a more detailed depiction of a computer power delivery system of the prior art.

#FIG. 1-3 indicates the parts of the computer power delivery system of the prior art that may be eliminated by the present invention.

#As can be easily understood, the basic concepts of the present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. These concepts involve both processes or methods as well as devices to or which accomplish such. In addition, while some specific circuitry is disclosed, it should be understood that these not only accomplish certain methods but also can be varied in a number of ways. Importantly, as to all of the foregoing, all of these facets should be understood to be encompassed by this disclosure.

#In the prior art, the central power supply provides several standard voltages for use by the electronics. Referring to FIG. 1-1, utility power 101, typically at 110 or 220 volt nominal ac power alternating at 50 or 60 cycles, is converted by power supply 106 to standard dc voltages, usually ±12 and +5 volts. These voltages are brought out of the power supply on flying leads, which form a kind of distribution system 107, terminated in one or more connectors 108. These standard voltages are useful directly for powering most of the input/output circuitry 140 and peripherals 144, such as a hard disc, floppy disc, and compact disc drives. As the technology of central processing unit (CPU) chip 141 has advanced, as discussed above, the operating voltage of such chips has steadily been reduced in the quest for higher and higher operating speeds. This increase in processor speed eventually required an increase in speed of the dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips 143 used to hold instructions and data for the CPU, and as a result the operating voltage of these DRAM chips has also been reduced. Also, not all of the logic required to manage the input/output functions and particularly the flow of data to and from the CPU and the memory and external devices is present on the CPU chip. These management functions, along with housekeeping functions (such as clock generation), interrupt request handling, etc., can be dealt with by the “chip set”, shown in FIG. 1-1 as logic management circuits 145. These circuits also have steadily increased in speed and have correspondingly required lower operating voltages.

#The standard voltages are thus too hitch to properly power CPU 141, memory 143, and management circuits 145. These may all require different voltages, as shown in FIG. 1-1 where the actual voltages shown are representative only. These different voltages may each be created by an individual Voltage Regulation Module 112 (VRM), which reduce the voltage supplied by the power supply 106 to the voltage required by the powered circuitry.