Three-D power converter in three distinct strata
A switching power supply in an integrated circuit, an integrated circuit comprising a switching power supply, and a method of assembling a switching power supply in an integrated circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention provides a three-dimensional switching power supply in an integrated circuit comprising a device layer. The switching power supply comprises three distinct strata arranged in series with the device layer, the three distinct strata including a switching layer including switching circuits, a capacitor layer including banks of capacitors, and an inductor layer including inductors. This switching power supply further comprises a multitude of connectors electrically and mechanically connecting together the device layer, the switching layer, the capacitor layer, and the inductor layer. The switching circuits, the capacitors and the inductors form a switching power supply for supplying power to the device layer.
1. A three-dimensional switching power supply in an integrated circuit stack comprising a device layer including a plurality of processor cores, the switching power supply comprising:
three distinct strata arranged in series with the device layer, the three distinct strata including
a switching layer including switching circuits,
a capacitor layer including banks of capacitors, and
an inductor layer including inductors; and
a multitude of connectors electrically and mechanically connecting together the device layer, the switching layer, the capacitor layer, and the inductor layer; and wherein:
the switching circuits, the capacitors and the inductors form a plurality of switching power supplies, each of the switching power supplies supplying power to a respective one of the processor cores.
2. The three-dimensional switching power supply according to claim 1 , wherein each of the switching power supplies applies a respective one voltage level to one of the processor cores.
3. The three-dimensional switching power supply according to claim 1 , wherein each of the switching power supplies includes a voltage regulator to regulate the voltage level applied to the respective one of the processor cores.
4. The three-dimensional switching power supply according to claim 1 , wherein:
the processor cores are on a common processor chip; and
the switching power supplies generate the respective one voltage level on said processor chip.
5. The three-dimensional switching power supply according to claim 4 , wherein the voltage regulators are integrated in the processor chip.
6. The three-dimensional switching power supply according to claim 5 , wherein the voltage regulators provide local on-chip generation of different voltages.
7. The three-dimensional switching power supply according to claim 6 , wherein the switching power supplies apply different voltages to different areas of the common processor chip.
8. The three-dimensional switching power supply according to claim 1 , wherein each of the switching power supplies is controllable to apply a controllable voltage to each of the processor cores.
9. The three-dimensional switching power supply according to claim 8 , wherein the switching power supplies are separately controllable.
10. The three dimensional switching power supply according to claim 1 , wherein the switching power supplies operate different portions of the processor cores at different voltages.
11. An integrated circuit comprising:
a device layer including a plurality of processor cores;
a switching power supply comprising three distinct strata arranged in series with the device layer, the three distinct strata including
a switching layer including switching circuits,
a capacitor layer including banks of capacitors, and
an inductor layer including inductors; and
a multitude of connectors electrically and mechanically connecting together the device layer, the switching layer, the capacitor layer, and the inductor layer; and wherein:
the switching circuits, the capacitors and the inductors form a plurality of switching power supplies, each of the switching power supplies supplying power to a respective one of the processor cores.
12. The integrated circuit according to claim 11 , wherein:
each of the switching power supplies applies a respective one voltage level to one of the processor cores; and
each of the switching power supplies includes a voltage regulator to regulate the voltage level applied to the respective one of the processor cores.
13. The integrated circuit according to claim 12 , wherein:
the processor cores are on a common processor chip:
the switching power supplies generate the respective one voltage level on said processor chip; and
the voltage regulators are integrated on the processor chip and provide local on-chip generation of different voltages.
14. The integrated circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the switching power supplies apply different voltages to different areas of the common processor chip.
15. The integrated circuit according to claim 11 , wherein each of the switching power supplies are separately controllable to apply a separately controllable voltage to each of the processor cores.
16. A method of assembling a switching power supply in an integrated circuit, the switching power supply including three distinct strata including a switching layer including switching circuits, a capacitor layer including banks of capacitors, and an inductor layer including inductors, the integrated circuit including a device layer including a plurality of processor cores, the method comprising:
arranging the three distinct strata of the switching power supply in series with the device layer; and
electrically and mechanically connecting together the device layer, the switching layer, the capacitor layer, and the inductor layer to form a plurality of switching power supplies, each of the switching power supplies supplying power to a respective one of the processor cores.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein:
each of the switching power supplies applies a respective one voltage level to one of the processor cores; and
each of the switching power supplies includes a voltage regulator to regulate the voltage level applied to the respective one of the processor cores.
18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein
the processor cores are on a common processor chip:
the switching power supplies generate the respective one voltage level on said processor chip; and
the voltage regulators are integrated on the processor chip and provide local on-chip generation of different voltages.
19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the switching power supplies apply different voltages to different areas of the common processor chip.
20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the switching power supplies operate different portions of the processor cores at different voltages.