Servers (Core Power) Data Center Solution

PFC converters are widely used in the industry to provide DC output voltage from the main lines, and to maintain a high power factor (PF) and low current distortion at the same time. In some of these applications, such as telecom, server, workstation power supplies, and plug-in electric vehicles, the active input power needs to be measured in real time in order to monitor energy consumption, as we...

In recent years, the artificial intelligence (AI) and big data industries have rapidly innovated and developed 5G communication technologies, Internet of Everything (IoE), and the intelligent world. For cloud computing applications in particular, the demand for quick data processing across datacenters and private servers has reached unprecedented heights. To meet future demands for these applicati...

Servers and racks used in datacenters have undergone a considerable increase in power, going from a few hundred watts to multiple kilowatts. The distribution of these higher power levels on multiple servers inevitably generates greater power losses and hinders efficiency. This aspect can be mitigated by transiting from a traditional 12V distribution voltage to 48V. The increase in distribution vo...

Datacenter applications use powerful CPU, GPU, and ASIC SoCs that consume significant amounts of current. They range from tens to thousands of amperes, and often fluctuate rapidly based on their specific power demand. Existing design challenges are only growing as technology and consumer demands accelerate. These challenges include large output impedance, and increasing amounts of space occupied b...

The need to optimize efficiency and address complex power requirements of high-end processors, FPGAs, and ASICs are making active power management a critical design requirement in datacenter servers, telecoms systems, and networking equipment applications. At the same time, engineers designing power schemes are expected to minimize board space while reducing the development time between the initia...

Last week, the list of the 2018 World Electronics Achievement Awards was unveiled at the Global Double Summit hosted by ASPENCORE, the world's largest media group in the field of electronic technology. The MP2888A from MPS won the title of "Power Management/Voltage Converter of the Year" as the industry's first 10-phase digital controller. MPS becomes one of only three companies that have won this...

Current datacenters typically have a 12V backplane and distribution on board and need to convert the voltage down to around 1V, which is usually achieved with a synchronous buck regulator, single- or multi-phase. The racks in these datacenters normally max out at a power rating of 20kW. There is a need in the industry to increase the power density per-rack to about 100kW to reduce the size of thes...

Over recent decades, server and computing system complexity has increased alongside power delivery (PD) requirements. This makes regulator design more challenging because it requires a tradeoff between higher efficiency and a fast dynamic response, as well as between reduced power loss and the size of the MOSFETs. Servers require power supplies with high current, low voltages, and fast transient ...

As power electronic switching techniques advance, there is an increased need to accurately measure current for feedback control and system monitoring. There are several methods to achieve this, with each method having advantages and limitations. This article focuses on current measurement methods that require relatively high accuracy and bandwidth, such as those used to measure current on the inpu...

The explosive growth of cloud services has driven major advances in datacenters, as well as networking and telecom equipment. Innovative demands impact the servers, storage, and networking switches that process these ever-increasing amounts of data. Infrastructure equipment is being pushed to its limits in terms of processing power and bandwidth. For power designers, the main challenge is how to e...

A signal is an electromagnetic or electrical current that carries data from one system or network to another. In electronics, a signal is often a time-varying voltage that is also an electromagnetic wave carrying information, though it can take on other forms, such as current. There are two main types of signals used in electronics: analog and digital signals. This article discusses the correspond...

The need to implement protections and control circuits is a crucial design requirement in datacenter severs, telecoms systems, and networking equipment applications. At the same time, engineers designing power-related schemes are expected to minimize board space while reducing the development time between the initial concept and final product. Solutions with a minimal number of components are imp...