The present invention relates to computer systems; more particularly, the present invention relates to delivering power to a power sensitive system such as a computer system.
Integrated circuit (IC) components are typically powered by voltage regulators located at a remote location. Particularly, the IC components and voltage regulators are typically mounted on a computer system motherboard. Power is typically delivered to the voltages regulators from a power supply via the motherboard. In order to deliver power, the motherboard allocates one or more layers for the routing of power leads.
Having to provide additional motherboard layers results in added costs in manufacturing the boards. In addition, for mobile computer systems such as notebooks, the additional layers result in a larger notebook size.
The invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which:
A power bus bar design is described. In the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.
Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
A chipset 107 is also coupled to bus 105. Chipset 107 includes a memory control hub (MCH) 110. MCH 110 may include a memory controller 112 that is coupled to a main system memory 115. Main system memory 115 stores data and sequences of instructions that are executed by CPU 102 or any other device included in system 100. In one embodiment, main system memory 115 includes dynamic random access memory (DRAM); however, main system memory 115 may be implemented using other memory types. Additional devices may also be coupled to bus 105, such as multiple CPUs and/or multiple system memories.
MCH 110 is coupled to an input/output control hub (ICH) 140 via a hub interface. ICH 140 provides an interface to input/output (I/O) devices within computer system 100. In addition, computer system 100 includes a power supply 165 and a multitude of voltage regulators that are used to provide power to various components within computer system 100. Particularly, CPU voltage regulator module (VRM) 160 provides voltage to CPU 102. VRM 175 supplies voltage for both MCH 110 and ICH 140 within chipset 107.
In addition, motherboard 200 includes a battery pack 265, a battery connector 268 and a power bus bar 280. Battery pack 265 represents a power supply 165 that provides power to the components of motherboard 200. Connector 268 serves as an interface between battery pack 265 and motherboard 200 where the power is provided to motherboard 200.
Power bus bar 280 is a metal bar that feeds power to VRMs 160 and 175 from connector 268. According to one embodiment, bus bar 280 is implemented as two three inch bars that route the battery voltage (VBAT) to VRM 160 and VRM 175, as shown in
As discussed above, bus bar 280 is made up of two sections of conductors 330 and 340 bonded together with an insulating material layer 350 in between. One conductor is for +Voltage, while the other is for the −Voltage. As a result, the back to back VCC & Ground arrangement minimizes the electromagnetic interference (EMI) from radiation out from the bus bar.
Capacitors 360 are mounted conductors 330 and 340 in order to reduce the inductance generated at bus bar 280, and to bypass high frequency noises. In other embodiments, capacitors 360 may be mounted on motherboard 200 near the terminal connections of bus bar 280.
Note that although the above embodiments illustrate bus bar 280 having longitudinal shapes, other embodiments may feature bus bar 280 having different shapes (e.g., curve, right angle, etc.) to support different board placement and layout.
The bus bar mechanism creates an off-the-shelf component that can be mass produced at very low cost that can address various custom design requirements of notebook platform by allowing flexible placement of voltage regulators within the highly placement constrained notebook motherboard. Further, the bus bar enables the efficient use of motherboard layers, especially in a design with minimal layer counts.
Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is in no way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references to details of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims which in themselves recite only those features regarded as essential to the invention.