Patent Application
20060019518
A socket may be used to attach an integrated circuit to a substrate. For example, a processor may be inserted into a socket that is mounted on a printed circuit board. A set of signal inputs and/or outputs on the integrated circuit (e.g., signal pins or contacts) may be electrically connected to signal traces on the printed circuit board via signal paths through the socket. The signal traces, in turn, may lead to other components that are on the printed circuit board (e.g., other integrated circuits). As a result, the signal inputs and/or outputs may be used, for example, to exchange information with another processor or a memory unit.
One or more power inputs on the integrated circuit may also be electrically coupled to power traces on the printed circuit board through the socket. These power traces, in turn, may lead to a voltage regulator that provides power to the integrated circuit. As processing speeds and component power consumption increase, however, it may become difficult to efficiently route signal and power traces and still supply an appropriate amount of current and/or achieve an appropriate voltage tolerance for an integrated circuit.
The integrated circuit 130 may be removably coupled to a socket 140 that is also attached to the printed circuit board 110. Moreover, a set of signal inputs and/or outputs (e.g., signal pins or contacts) on the integrated circuit 130 may be electrically connected to traces on the printed circuit board 110 via signal paths 142 through the socket 140 (e.g., to exchange information via a system bus). In
One or more power inputs on the integrated circuit 130 may also be electrically coupled to power traces 112 on the printed circuit board 110 via power paths 144 through the socket 140. In
Note that the integrated circuit 130 may receive power via multiple power inputs, and the location of these power inputs might not be evenly distributed. For example, as illustrated in
In some layouts, however, other considerations may make it impractical to locate the voltage regulator 120 in a desirable position with respect to power. For example, a different component 150 might be placed in that location to improve the performance of the apparatus for other reasons. The other component 150 might be, for example, a Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) or a Small Outline (SO) Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM).
In this case, one or more power traces 112 may need to be routed between the socket 140 and a remote voltage regulator 120. As processing speeds increase, however, greater amounts of current may need to be provided to the integrated circuit 130—and the power loss and degraded tolerances associated with long power traces 112 may be substantial. Moreover, long power traces 112 might restrict where and how other busses can be routed. For example, signal traces associated with a Front Side Bus (FSB) or a dual Double Data Rate (DDR) memory unit might require additional printed circuit board layers because of the long power traces 112, which could increase the cost of the apparatus 100.
Within the socket body 240, a set of signal paths route signals between signal inputs and/or outputs 232 on the integrated circuit 230 and traces on the printed circuit board 210. In addition, at least one power input 234 on the integrated circuit 230 is electrically coupled to a connector 260. The connector 260 may be, for example, a copper tab extending from a side of the socket body 240.
The connector 260 is also electrically coupled to a power buss bar 270. The power buss bar 270 may, for example, be a copper rod or wire that electrically couples the connector 260 (and therefore the integrated circuit's power input 234) to a voltage regulator or other power source. The power buss bar 270 and the connector 260 may be physically coupled, for example, by a threaded connection (e.g., a threaded portion of the power buss bar 270 may screw into or over a threaded portion of the connector 260), a solder connection, a nut and bore clamp-on, or a spring connection. As illustrated in
Note that according to some embodiments, the power buss bar 270 is not directly attached to the printed circuit board 210. In this way, a significant amount of current may be supplied from a voltage regulator to the integrated circuit 230 without restricting the routing of other signals. According to some embodiments, the power buss bar 270 may extend from the connector 260 to a trace located remote from the socket 240 body (e.g., which in turn leads to a voltage regulator).
According to this embodiment, at least one power pin 334 on the integrated circuit 330 is electrically coupled to a power plane 360. In the example illustrated in
The power plane 360 may be, for example, a conductive sheet or plate of copper that is substantially parallel to the printed circuit board 310. Moreover, one portion of the power plane 360 may be located within the socket body 340 and another portion may extend outside to the socket body 340 to serve as a connector (e.g., a tab shaped connector). Note that the connector portion of the power plane 360 and the portion internal to the socket body 340 might be integrally formed or might include multiple portions that are coupled together. The connector portion of the power plane 360 is also electrically coupled to a power buss bar 370 (e.g., a copper path) which in turn is electrically coupled to a voltage regulator.
In this example, the connector portion of the power plane 460 extends from the left side of the socket body 440. The connector portion is therefore proximate to most of the power inputs 444. In this case, the freedom to route other signal traces on the substrate 410 might not be restricted by power traces. Instead, the power buss bar 470 is used to electrically couple the connector portion to the “remote” voltage regulator 420 (“remote” because the voltage regulator 420 is not proximate to most of the power inputs 444).
The power inputs 544 on the integrated circuit are electrically coupled to a copper sheet or plate 560. Note that the copper plate 560 might include openings 562 that let the signal inputs and outputs 542 extend through the socket body 540 without contacting the copper plate 560.
A power buss bar 570 brings a core voltage from the voltage regulator 520 to the copper plate 560 (and therefore to the power inputs 544 on the integrated circuit). In this example, the connector portion of the copper plate 560 is located on the right side of the socket body 540 and is therefore proximate voltage regulator 520. That is, even though most of the power inputs 544 are located on the left hand side of the socket 540, the copper plate 560 lets the voltage regulator 520 be positioned proximate to the right hand side of the socket 540 without using a long power buss bar 570. Such an arrangement may, for example, reduce power loss and improve voltage tolerances associated with the apparatus 500.
At 604, the core voltage is provided to a socket's connector tab via a power buss bar. For example, one end of a power buss bar may be electrically coupled to the voltage regulator and the other end of the power buss bar may be electrically coupled to the connector. At 606, the core voltage is provided from the connector to a conductive plate in the body of the socket. The core voltage may then be provided from the conductive plate to an integrated circuit's power input at 608.
The system 700 may comprise any computing system having an integrated circuit 730 and a socket 740. For example, the system 700 and/or integrated circuit 730 might be associated with a mobile computer, a Personal Computer (PC), a server, a handheld computer, a media computer such as a digital video recorder, and/or a game device.
The following illustrates various additional embodiments. These do not constitute a definition of all possible embodiments, and those skilled in the art will understand that many other embodiments are possible. Further, although the following embodiments are briefly described for clarity, those skilled in the art will understand how to make any changes, if necessary, to the above description to accommodate these and other embodiments and applications.
For example, although a conductive plate was described in some embodiments, note that wires or traces within a socket body might instead be used to electrically couple an integrated circuit's power inputs to a connector (and therefore to a power buss bar). Moreover, although voltage regulators have been described as being mounted on a printed circuit board or other substrate, note that a power buss bar might be used to provide power to a socket from a voltage regulator that is not located on the same substrate.
In addition, although some embodiments described a socket with a single connector, embodiments may be provided with multiple connectors (e.g., two power buss bar connectors might be provided on opposite sides of a socket body). Similarly, a socket might include both a power buss bar connector (e.g., on a side of the socket) and a power path from the top of the socket to the bottom of the socket (e.g., and such a socket could receive power via a power buss bar and/or a traditional power trace).
The several embodiments described herein are solely for the purpose of illustration. Persons skilled in the art will recognize from this description other embodiments may be practiced with modifications and alterations limited only by the claims.
