Compensating coupling transformers for trans-inductor voltage regulators
Various embodiments disclose a trans-inductor voltage regulator comprising a first group pairing of switching circuits that includes, a first group of switching circuits, a first compensating coupling inductor coupled to the first group of switching circuits, a second group of switching circuits, and a second compensating coupling inductor coupled to the second group of switching circuits, where the first compensating coupling inductor comprises a first winding of a compensating coupling transformer, and the second compensating coupling inductor is a second winding of the compensating coupling transformer.
1 . A trans-inductor voltage regulator comprising:
a first group pairing of switching circuits that includes:
a first group of switching circuits;
a first compensating coupling inductor coupled to the first group of switching circuits;
a second group of switching circuits; and
a second compensating coupling inductor coupled to the second group of switching circuits,
wherein the first compensating coupling inductor comprises a first winding of a compensating coupling transformer, and the second compensating coupling inductor is a second winding of the compensating coupling transformer.
2 . The trans-inductor voltage regulator of claim 1 , wherein the second compensating coupling inductor is negatively coupled to the first compensating coupling inductor.
3 . The trans-inductor voltage regulator of claim 1 , wherein the second compensating coupling inductor is positively coupled to the first compensating coupling inductor.
4 . The trans-inductor voltage regulator of claim 1 , wherein the first group of switching circuits comprises a multiphase converter that includes at least:
a first converter for a first phase including a first switch network and a first coupling transformer; and
a second converter for a second phase including a second switch network and a second coupling transformer.
5 . The trans-inductor voltage regulator of claim 4 , wherein:
the first coupling transformer includes a first primary coupling winding and a first secondary coupling winding,
the second coupling transformer includes a second primary coupling winding and a second secondary coupling winding, and
the first secondary coupling winding and the second secondary coupling winding are connected in series.
6 . The trans-inductor voltage regulator of claim 4 , wherein the first compensating coupling inductor is connected in series with the first secondary winding and the second secondary winding.
7 . The trans-inductor voltage regulator of claim 1 , further comprising a feedback network that, in operation, receives an output from the first group paring of switching circuits and generates a feedback signal that is transmitted to the first group of switching circuits and the second group of switching circuits.
8 . The trans-inductor voltage regulator of claim 1 , wherein the compensating coupling transformer has a self-inductance in a range of 350-450 nH and a coupling coefficient in a range of 0.4-0.6.
9 . The trans-inductor voltage regulator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second group pairing of switching circuits comprising:
a third group of switching circuits;
a third compensating coupling inductor coupled to the third group of switching circuits;
a fourth group of switching circuits; and
a fourth compensating coupling inductor coupled to the fourth group of switching circuits,
wherein the third compensating coupling inductor comprises a first winding of a second compensating coupling transformer and the fourth compensating coupling inductor comprises a second winding of the second compensating coupling transformer.
10 . The trans-inductor voltage regulator of claim 9 , wherein the fourth compensating coupling inductor is negatively coupled to the third compensating coupling inductor.
11 . The trans-inductor voltage regulator of claim 9 , wherein:
the first group pairing of switching circuits includes a first quantity of phases,
the second group pairing of switching circuits includes a second quantity of phases, and
the first quantity of phases is different than the second quantity of phases.
12 . The trans-inductor voltage regulator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third group of switching circuits;
a first compensating inductor connected to the third group of switching circuits;
a fourth group of switching circuits; and
a second compensating inductor connected to the fourth group of switching circuits.
13 . A system comprising:
a first processor; and
a first trans-inductor voltage regulator that generates a first voltage to the first processor, the first trans-inductor voltage regulator comprising:
a first group pairing of switching circuits that includes:
a first group of switching circuits,
a first compensating coupling inductor coupled to the first group of switching circuits,
a second group of switching circuits, and
a second compensating coupling inductor coupled to the second group of switching circuits,
wherein the first compensating coupling inductor comprises a first winding of a compensating coupling transformer, and the second compensating coupling inductor comprises a second winding of the compensating coupling transformer.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the second compensating coupling inductor is negatively coupled to the first compensating coupling inductor.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the second compensating coupling inductor is positively coupled to the first compensating coupling inductor.
16 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a second trans-inductor voltage regulator that generates a second voltage to a semiconductor different than the first processor, the second trans-inductor voltage regulator comprising:
a second group pairing of switching circuits comprising:
a third group of switching circuits;
a third compensating coupling inductor coupled to the third group of switching circuits;
a fourth group of switching circuits; and
a fourth compensating coupling inductor coupled to the third group of switching circuits,
wherein the third compensating coupling inductor is a first winding of a second compensating coupling transformer, and the fourth compensating coupling inductor is a second winding of the second compensating coupling transformer.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the fourth compensating coupling inductor is negatively coupled to the third compensating coupling inductor.
18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the semiconductor comprises one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
19 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a first converter for a first phase including a first switch network and a first coupling transformer having a first primary coupling winding and a first secondary coupling winding; and
a second converter for a second phase including a second switch network and a second coupling transformer having a second primary coupling winding and a second secondary coupling winding,
wherein the first secondary coupling winding and the second secondary coupling winding are connected in series.
20 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the first compensating coupling inductor is connected in series with the first secondary winding and the second secondary winding.