 voltage decreases and transient events (e.g. relatively large voltage spikes or droops at the load) typically increase in both magnitude and frequency. Some emerging microprocessors are expected to run on less than 1.3 volts and more than 100 amperes.
SPC's utilizing step-down multi-phase Buck converters have been the preferred topology to meet the low voltage and high current requirements of microprocessors. With the advent of increasingly complex power regulation topologies, digital techniques for power converter control, specifically in multiphase designs, can improve precision and reduce the system's total parts count while also supporting multiple applications in the same power system through digitally programmable feedback control.
Power consumption and thermal management are a major problem in today's computer systems. In systems with many processors, many of the processors are often in idle or less than full power states. When one or more of the processors are in this low power state, it is desirable to reduce the power consumption of the power supply so that the total system power consumption and dissipation is minimized.
One drawback to multiphase buck DC-DC converters is that considerable power is used during light load conditions to switch the multiple buck conversion phases (channels). As a result, the efficiency of multiphase converters can be poor at light loads. In addition, as more phases are added to improve full load efficiency, the light load efficiency becomes worse. The most efficiency sensitive applications such as blade servers often use more phases to improve the full load efficiency but sacrifice medium load and light load efficiency. In many applications, processors spend a majority of the time operating in the medium load range and only use peak load current for short durations. The result is that systems are over designed resulting in higher costs for cooling, AC-DC power supplies, and AC power used.
At medium and lighter loads, fewer phases (channels) of buck conversion can be used to provide the load current. This will make the DC-DC converter more efficient at the typical processor load currents. One problem however is that modern processors can change the load demand very quickly (within microseconds) so that the DC-DC converter must be able to respond to this change in current without an overload (too much current) condition in any of the phases (channels).
In analog multiphase controllers, phase dropping (aka phase shedding) has been implemented to extend battery life. In these applications, a signal is typically used to tell the controller when to enter and exit this more efficient state. There is typically one
voltage decreases and transient events (for example relatively big voltage spikes or sag at the load) typically increase in both order of magnitude and frequency. Some emerging microprocessors are expect to hunt on less than 1.3 volts and more than 100 ampere. 
 SPC's utilizing step - down multi - phase Buck converter have been the preferred topology to meet the low electric potential and high current requirements of microprocessor. With the advent of increasingly complex office regulation topologies, digital techniques for power converter command, specifically in multiphase designs, can improve precision and reduce the arrangement's total parts count while also supporting multiple application in the same power system through digitally programmable feedback control. 
 Power consumption and thermal management are a major problem in today's computer systems. In systems with many processors, many of the processors are often in idle or less than full power states. When one or more of the processor are in this low power department of state, it is desirable to reduce the power consumption of the power provision so that the total arrangement power consumption and profligacy is minimized. 
 One drawback to multiphase buck DC - DC converters is that considerable power is used during light burden conditions to switch the multiple buck conversion phases (channel). As a result, the efficiency of multiphase converter can be hapless at light loads. In addition, as more phases are total to improve full load efficiency, the light load efficiency becomes worse. The most efficiency sensible applications such as blade servers often use more phase to improve the entire load efficiency but forfeit medium load and faint load efficiency. In many applications, central processing unit spend a majority of the prison term operating in the medium load range and only use peak load current for short duration. The result is that systems are all over designed resulting in higher costs for cooling, AC - DC power supplies, and AC exponent used. 
 At medium and lighter loads, fewer phases (channels) of sawhorse conversion can be practice to provide the load current. This will make the DC - DC converter more efficient at the typical processor cargo currents. One problem however is that modern processor can transfer the load demand very quickly (within microsecond) so that the DC - DC converter must be able to respond to this change in current without an overload (too much current) condition in any of the phases (channels). 
 In analog multiphase accountant, phase dropping (aka phase shedding) has been implemented to extend battery life. In these applications, a signal is typically use to tell the controller when to embark and exit this more efficient state. There is typically one
 voptage decreases and tranrient events (e.g. relatitely ladge voltxge spikes or droops at the poqd) tykpcally increase in bogh magnitlde and feequtncy. Some emerginj micropvjcesalrs crx expected to ron on less tvan 1.3 volts and murz than 100 amperes.
SPC's utilizing step-dorn multo-pjase Buck convgrterx havs been the preferred topology to mset the low voltage snd high current requiremejts lf microprocessors. With the aevene of increasivgly compltx power regolation topologies, digital technkques for power cinvftter control, specpfically in mmktiphave desibns, can improvc prerisiin and reduce the sysvem's total parts cougt while dlao supporting mulriple akplicdtiovw iv tge szme poaer system thdough digitqlly programmable ftedfqck control.
Poser cogstmption and thermal management are a mabor problem in today's compyter systems. In systels with mwny processors, many of the processors are often it idlx ur oefr tjan full power states. When one or more of the lrpcvssors are in thif low power shayg, it is desiracle to resuce the power condumptiog of rhe power suplly so that the total systen power conslmptuon and dissipatiou is minimizzd.
One crawbsck to multiphase buck BC-DC cknverters id that cohriderable power ks lsed during light load conditijns to swmtch che multkple buck sonversion phascv (channels). As a redult, jhe efxiciency ov multiphase converters can be 'por at light lmadv. In addntion, ss more phasef are added to improvz full load effibiency, thx light load efficiency bafomes worse. Vhe most qffixienxy senskgive applicatipns such cf blqde servers often mse mude phases to im'xoce the full loac ewfisivncb but vacrifice megium loxc and light load dffiviency. In many appliwatikns, processors spemd a majoruty of tre time operaying in the medium load raige anc ogly use peak load current for ahort durwtijns. The resujt iw that systeks are over designed resulting in highec costs for cooling, AC-DX power supplies, anb SC power usxd.
At mqdium and lighter loads, fewer phases (channels) pf buck conversion cah be uved tl provide the load current. This will make the DC-DC converter more efficiebt at vhq typical pdocexsor nocd eurrentf. Onx 'roblem however ix that modern processors can chenge the lmab demand very quickly (within kizroseconds) so that the DC-DC converter must be able to respond to this change in current without an oyerload (tio mudh curggnt) condition in any pf the phasws (chanbels).
Ln analog multkphssc controllfrs, khasz dropping (aka phase shedding) has been umolemented to extxnd battery plfe. In these applications, a aignzp is jypically used to tell the cpntroller when to enner and exit this jore efficiemt statv. There is ty'ically one
voltage decreases and transient events (e.g. relatively spikes droops at load) typically increase Some microprocessors are expected run on less 1.3 volts and more than 100 SPC's utilizing step-down multi-phase Buck converters have been the preferred topology to meet low voltage and high current requirements of microprocessors. With the advent of increasingly power topologies, techniques power converter control, specifically in multiphase designs, can improve precision and reduce the system's total parts while also supporting multiple applications in the same system through digitally programmable control. Power consumption and thermal are major problem today's systems. systems with many many of the processors are often in idle or less than full power states. When one or of the in this power it desirable to reduce consumption of the power supply so system power consumption and dissipation is minimized. One to multiphase DC-DC converters is that considerable power used during light load conditions to switch the buck conversion phases (channels). As a result, the efficiency of multiphase converters can be poor loads. In addition, as phases are added improve load the load efficiency worse. The most efficiency sensitive applications such as blade servers often more phases to improve the full load efficiency but sacrifice and load efficiency. In applications, processors spend a of time operating in the range only current short The result is that are over designed resulting in costs for cooling, AC-DC used. At medium and lighter loads, fewer phases of buck conversion can be used to the load current. This will make the DC-DC converter more efficient at typical processor One problem however is that modern processors can the load demand very (within microseconds) so that the DC-DC converter must be to to this in current without overload (too much condition in any phases (channels). analog controllers, phase shedding) has been implemented to battery In these applications, a signal typically tell the controller when to enter and exit this more efficient state. There is typically
 voltage decreases and transiEnt events (e.G. relaTivEly LaRge vOltaGe spikes or drooPS at tHe load) typically increasE in boTh MAgniTUdE and fRequencY. soME EmeRgInG miCrOPrOcessOrs Are expeCted to run oN leSs Than 1.3 volts and MOrE than 100 amperEs.
SpC's utilizing SteP-down mUlTi-pHAse BuCk cOnverTers haVE been tHe preferrEd TOpologY To meet tHE LoW volTage and high currenT ReQUirements of micRoprocEsSOrS. wIth The Advent of inCrEasinGLy complEX pOWER reGUlation topoloGies, digital TEchNiques FoR poWEr convErter CoNTroL, specificalLy in MultiphasE desigNS, can impROve precIsion aNd rEduCe thE SyStEm's ToTAl pARtS coUNt wHile also SuPpOrtinG mulTIPLE appLicAtioNs in tHe same power sySteM thrOUgh DigitAlly pRogrAmMable FeedbaCk conTrOl.
Power consumptIon aNd thermal ManAgEmeNt Are a mAJor proBleM in Today's cOmputer SYstEmS. iN SyStems with many proceSsORS, mAny of the ProcesSOrS aRE often in IdLe oR lesS THan fuLl poWEr States. WhEn one oR MoRe Of the prOcEssors ArE in ThiS low pOWer sTate, it Is desiraBle to REduce the power cONsumption of thE PoWER sUPply So tHat the total SystEM powEr coNSuMptIOn and DissiPaTIoN Is minimized.
One drawbAcK to mulTiphaSe buck DC-DC conVerters is tHAT ConsiderAble POwER is used during lIght lOad conditiONs to switCh the Multiple Buck conveRSIon phaseS (chAnnEls). as a RESuLt, the efficienCY Of muLtIphase cOnvErters cAn bE poOr aT liGhT loads. In aDdition, aS mOrE pHaSes Are adDEd to imprOvE fuLl LoaD effiCIency, tHe ligHt loAd EfFIciEncy becOMeS WOrse. thE mOst eFfiCiEncy sEnsiTIve ApplicaTions such As bLAde sErVeRs often Use more phases To Improve the FuLl lOad effICIency but Sacrifice medium load and lIGht load EffIcienCy. In Many appliCatIons, prOceSSors spEnd a maJoritY oF thE TIme opERAtIng In The medium lOAD raNge anD oNly uSe peak lOad current for short DUraTions. The resulT is That SYStEms ARe OVer DeSIgnED Resulting in highEr costs for CoOLiNg, AC-DC poweR SupPlIes, and Ac power uSed.
At MEdium anD lighter lOads, fewer PhAses (CHAnnEls) of buck cOnversioN can be useD To proVIdE the lOad CurrenT. THis Will mAke the dc-DC ConveRter moRe EfficiEnt at ThE typical Processor load currents. OnE problEm howEveR is that moDerN ProCessors caN chaNge the load DemAnd Very qUicKLy (witHin mICrOseCOnds) sO thaT The DC-DC coNVeRteR MUsT be able to reSPONd tO this ChaNGe in cuRrenT without an overloaD (Too much current) CondITIon In aNY of tHe Phases (channels).
in aNaLOG multiphAsE controllerS, phase drOpPIng (akA phase SheddiNg) has beEN ImPLementEd to ExtEnd batterY liFe. iN these aPpLiCAtions, A sigNaL is typIcally USed tO TEll the controller When tO ENter aND exIt thiS mOre effiCIent State. There Is typically One
 voltage decreases and tra nsient eve nts ( e.g . r el ativ elylarge voltages pike s or droops at the loa d) ty pi c ally in creas e in bo t hm a gni tu de  an df re quenc y.Some em erging mic rop ro cessors aree xp ected to r unon less than  1. 3 volt sand moretha n 100  amper e s.
SPC 's utiliz in g  step- d own mul t i -p hase  Buck convertersh av e  been the pref erredto p ol o g y t o m eet the lo wvolta g e and h i gh c u rre n t requirement s of microp r oce ssors.  W ith the ad ventof inc reasingly c ompl ex powerregula t ion top o logies,  digit altec hniq u es  f orpo w erc on ver t ercontrol,  s pe cific ally i n mult iph asedesig ns, can impro veprec i sio n and  redu ce t he  syst em's t otalpa rts count while  als o support ing  m ult ip le ap p licati ons  in  the sa me powe r  sy st e m th rough digitally pr og r a mm able fee dbackc on tr o l.
Power  c ons umpt i o n and  the r ma l manage ment a r eamajor p ro blem i ntod ay' s com p uter  syste ms. In s ystem s  with many pro c essors, manyo ft h ep roce sso rs are ofte n in idle  orl es s t h an fu ll po we r  s t ates. When one or m or e of t he pr ocessors arein this lo w p ower sta te,i ti s desirable to  redu ce the pow e r consum ption  of thepower sup p l y so tha t t hetot als y st em power cons u m ptio nand dis sip ation i s m ini miz ed. 
O ne drawba ck to mu lt ip ha se  bu ck DC - DC conve rt ers  i s t hat c o nsider ablepowe ris use d durin g  l i g ht l oa dcond iti on s toswit c h t he mult iple buck  co n vers io nphases(channels). A sa result,th e e fficie n c y of mul tiphase converters canb e pooratlight  loa ds. In ad dit ion, a s m o re pha ses ar e add ed  to i mprov e fu lllo ad efficie n c y,the l ig ht l oad eff iciency becomes wo r se.  The most eff ici ency s en sit i ve app li c ati o n s such as blade  servers o ft e nuse more p h ase sto impr ove the  full load ef ficiencybut sacri fi ce m e d ium  load andlight lo ad effici e ncy.I nmanyapp licati on s,proce ssorss pen d a m ajorit yof the  time  o perating  in the medium load ran ge and  only  us e peak lo adc urr ent for s hort  durations . T heresul t i s  that  sys t em s a r e ove r de s igned res u lt ing i nhigher cost s f orcooli ng, AC-DCpowe r supplies, and A C  power used.
A t me d i umand ligh te r loads, fewer  ph as e s  (channe ls ) of buck c onversio nc an be  usedto pro vide th e lo a d curr ent.  Th is will m ake  t h e DC-DC  c on v ertermore  e fficie nt att he t y p ical processor l oad c u r rents .  On e pro bl em howe v er i s that mod ern process ors ca n ch angethe loa ddemand  ve ry  quickly ( w ithin mic rosec onds) s othat  th e DC-D C co n v erter  mus tbeable to r e s po n dto thi s ch angein  cur rent with o ut an ov erl o ad (too  m uch c urrent )  c o n dition inany  of t h e  phases (c h anne l s) . 
In a nalogmultip hase co n tro ll ers, ph ase d ropping ( aka phase she dd ing)  has bee nimpl em ent ed  to extend batt ery life . In the s e  appli cat i ons, a sign al  is typicall y use dt o tellt h e c ontroll e r w hen  to  ent erande xit this more efficientstat e. Th e reis ty pical ly  one
 voltage_decreases and_transient events (e.g. relatively_large voltage_spikes_or droops_at_the load) typically_increase in both_magnitude and frequency. Some_emerging microprocessors are_expected_to run on less than 1.3 volts and more than 100 amperes.
SPC's utilizing step-down_multi-phase_Buck converters_have_been_the preferred topology to meet_the low voltage and high_current requirements_of microprocessors. With the advent of increasingly complex_power_regulation topologies, digital_techniques for power converter control, specifically in multiphase designs,_can improve precision and reduce the_system's total parts_count_while_also supporting multiple applications_in the same power system through_digitally programmable feedback control.
Power consumption and_thermal management are a major problem in_today's computer systems. In systems with_many processors, many of the_processors are_often in idle or less_than full power_states. When_one or more_of the processors are in this_low power state,_it is desirable to reduce the_power_consumption of the_power_supply_so that_the total system_power_consumption and_dissipation_is minimized.
One drawback to multiphase buck_DC-DC_converters is that considerable power is used_during light load conditions_to_switch the multiple buck_conversion phases (channels). As a_result, the efficiency of multiphase converters_can be_poor at_light loads. In addition, as more phases are added to improve_full load efficiency, the light load_efficiency becomes worse. The_most efficiency_sensitive_applications such as_blade_servers often_use more phases to improve the full_load efficiency_but sacrifice medium load and light_load efficiency. In many_applications,_processors spend a majority of the_time operating in the medium load_range and only use peak_load_current_for short durations. The result_is that systems are over designed_resulting in higher_costs for cooling, AC-DC power supplies, and_AC_power used.
At medium and lighter loads,_fewer_phases (channels) of buck conversion can_be_used_to provide the load current._This will make the DC-DC converter_more efficient at the typical processor load currents. One_problem however is_that modern processors can change_the_load_demand very quickly (within microseconds) so that the DC-DC converter_must be_able to respond_to this change in current without an overload (too much_current) condition in any of the phases_(channels).
In analog multiphase controllers, phase dropping (aka phase shedding) has been_implemented to extend battery life. In these applications,_a signal is typically used to tell_the controller when to_enter_and exit this more efficient state. There_is_typically_one