The latest version of Ericsson’s DC/DC Digital Power Designer software tool includes a number of important new features that enable board power designers and system architects to simulate either simple or complex power schemes, reducing time-to-implementation and time-to-market. Ericsson Power Designer (version 1.4) features advanced loop compensation functionality that makes it easy to simulate output capacitors and filtering networks such as PI filters on the output of 3E* Point-Of-Load (POL) DC/DC converters, and to optimize loop response without hardware modification for the end application.
Using the tool's Loop Compensator, it is possible to enter values provided by system designers to optimize loop response to match specific profiles such as that required by fast transient conditions, which are often seen when powering processors that are switching from low to high traffic load. The Loop Compensator tool is based on mathematical algorithms using switched-Hamiltonian differential-equation models, adding in the results from simulation, all presented through an intuitive graphic user interface. The Loop Compensator includes: PID control optimization, capacitance optimization and load transient response, in addition to the ability to enter values for the power module and load capacitor, as well as the inductor to simulate a PI filter.
Silicon process geometry is now reaching the 20-nanometer node with processors increasingly requiring ultra-low voltages of 1 V and below, with the consequence that some processors will draw currents in excess of 100 A. In addition to this, to efficiently power these new demanding components, new power architectures based upon multiple POL converters that distribute energy to multiple points will increasingly require a move from three to six modules in parallel, with the accompanying risk of high-current interference and disturbance. Ericsson 3E digital POL converters are designed for these types of applications and are able to provide efficient current sharing, phase spreading and phase shading.
Ericsson Power Designer now includes a new tool to optimize synchronization and phase spreading. A simulation module shows in a graphical format how the different phases are operating, the level of energy pulse from the input, and how to optimize phase spreading to lower pulse energy and to reduce input filtering, saving board space and lowering interference as a result.
The Ericsson DC/DC Digital Power Designer software can be downloaded free of charge following registration at: www.digitalpowerdesigner.com.
