Techniques for power supply topologies with capacitance management to reduce power loss associated with charging and discharging when cycling between power states

A method for managing bulk capacitance of a power supply system, comprising:

• precharging first and second bulk capacitors of the power supply system to approximately a first output voltage level associated with a full power state and a second output voltage level associated with a low power state, respectively, wherein the first bulk capacitor comprises a plurality of capacitors, and wherein the first output voltage level is greater than the second output voltage level;
• receiving a first command signal to generate, by the power supply system, the first output voltage level, the first command signal being proportional to the first output voltage level;
• in response to receiving the first command signal, coupling the first bulk capacitor to load circuitry coupled to the power supply and electrically coupling the plurality of capacitors in series with each other;
• receiving a second command signal to generate, by the power supply, the second output voltage level, the second command signal being proportional to the second output voltage level;
• and
• in response to receiving the second command signal, coupling the second bulk capacitor to the load circuitry coupled to the power supply and electrically coupling the plurality of capacitors in parallel with each other.

A system, comprising:

• a power supply and load circuitry, the power supply comprising:
• power train circuitry configured to generate a first output voltage level associated with a full power state and a second output voltage level associated with a low power state, based on, at least in part, a first output level control signal and a second output level control signal, respectively, to deliver power to the load circuitry coupled to the power train circuitry, wherein the first output voltage level is greater than the second output voltage level;
• first bulk capacitor circuitry and a second bulk capacitor circuitry, wherein the first bulk capacitor circuitry comprises a plurality of capacitors, and wherein the first bulk capacitor circuitry is configured to be precharged to approximately the first output voltage level and the second bulk capacitor circuitry is configured to be precharged to approximately the second output voltage level;
• and
• capacitive management circuitry configured to:
• in response to the first output level control signal, couple the first bulk capacitor circuitry to the load circuitry, and electrically couple the plurality of capacitors in series with each other, the first output level control signal being proportional to the first output voltage level;
• and,
• in response to the second output level control signal, couple the second bulk capacitor circuitry to the load circuitry, and electrically couple the plurality of capacitors in parallel with each other, the second output level control signal being proportional to the second output voltage level;
• and
• wherein the load circuitry comprising processor circuitry and memory circuitry.