A novel, multi-cells, direct conversion architecture from 48V down to IC-rail voltages (CPU, DDR, ASICs) is presented providing an attractive alternative to traditional power-distribution topologies using 12V input voltage for the point-of-load converters. This novel architecture to convert directly from 48V down to point of load (i.e. eliminating the intermediate 12V rail used in the conventional power distribution architectures) ensures excellent results in terms of efficiency, flexibility and dynamic voltage management and provides a state of the art alternative to the traditional approach no longer adequate for today's Data Centers demand. Several key features are offered and described such as: resonant or non-resonant fully isolated topology, Zero Voltage and Zero Current switching at any working condition, Energy Proportional management with dynamic cells shedding and pulse skipping at light load that maximizes the conversion efficiency across the full load range, source and sink mode current capability, scalable multi-cells architecture for flexibility and design optimization, high bandwidth for fast load transient and easy to compensate control loop, minimum noise contents allows close proximity to sensitive loads. This architecture is in mass production since 2016 offering a reliable and an easy to implement solution.
Link to slides: http://files.opencompute.org/oc/public.php?service=files&t=91acace8278ee202f929a17e8401730a
