How the Common Footprint Will Hurt the PC Market (Download)

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The PC power-delivery segment is distinctive in that each supplier has a unique and complex chipset with custom features and pinout (or footprint). The chipset controller communicates with the CPU, then executes complex control of the voltage, which is supplied by smart power stages (SPS) or driver + MOSFET power stages (DrMOS), to the CPU. In addition, the chipset provides an assortment of telemetry information.

The chipsets also are unique in that each customer platform requires labor-intensive tuning to maximize performance and efficiency. Both factors affect battery life, which makes them critical in the laptop PC market. The diversity of customer needs and solutions has created opportunities for each power-delivery vendor to thrive, since each solution is fit for an application that meets the customer’s specifications.