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Modeling and Analysis of On-Chip Power Noise Induced by an On-Chip Linear Voltage Regulator Module with a High-Speed Output Buffer
IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility
  • Heegon Kim
  • Jonghyun Cho
  • Changwook Yoon
  • Brice Achkir
  • James L. Drewniak, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Jun Fan, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Abstract

In this paper, analytical models of on-chip power noise induced by an on-chip linear voltage regulator module (VRM) circuit with a high-speed output buffer are proposed. Based on the piecewise linear approximated MOSFET I-V curve model, closed-form equations for the on-chip power noise induced by an on-chip low-dropout regulator are derived. The accuracy of the proposed analytical model is validated by SPICE simulation with a 110-nm CMOS technology library. Based on the proposed analytical models, the impacts of VRM design parameters on VRM output noise induced by load current and external noises are analyzed. Because self-impedance at the VRM output and external noise transfer functions share a common resonant frequency, the on-chip power noise is minimized by avoiding the resonant frequency from peak frequencies of noise source spectrums. The larger on-chip decoupling capacitance at load reduces, the overall on-chip VRM output noise. While the larger pass transistor size reduces the on-chip VRM output noise induced by the reference voltage fluctuation, it increases the noise generated by off-chip power fluctuation. The reference voltage node needs to be carefully designed, as opposed to an off-chip power distribution network, due to its dominant impact on the on-chip VRM output noise. The analysis results based on the proposed model provide an in-depth understanding of and useful design guidance for on-chip power noise induced by the on-chip linear VRM with a high-speed output buffer.

Department(s)
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Comments

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant IIP-1440110.

Keywords and Phrases
  • Capacitance,
  • Electric current regulators,
  • Electric load management,
  • Integrated circuit design,
  • Mathematical models,
  • Natural frequencies,
  • Piecewise linear techniques,
  • SPICE,
  • System-on-chip,
  • Transistors,
  • Voltage regulators,
  • Integrated circuit modeling,
  • Linear voltage regulators,
  • Load modeling,
  • Low-dropout regulators,
  • On-chip power distribution,
  • On-chip power noise,
  • Output Buffer,
  • Analytical models,
  • High-speed output buffer,
  • On-chip linear voltage regulator module (VRM),
  • On-chip low-dropout (LDO) regulator,
  • On-chip power distribution network (PDN),
  • Regulators
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2019 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
6-1-2020
Publication Date
01 Jun 2020
Citation Information
Heegon Kim, Jonghyun Cho, Changwook Yoon, Brice Achkir, et al.. "Modeling and Analysis of On-Chip Power Noise Induced by an On-Chip Linear Voltage Regulator Module with a High-Speed Output Buffer" IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility Vol. 62 Iss. 3 (2020) p. 880 - 893 ISSN: 0018-9375; 1558-187X
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jun-fan/310/