Device-Specific Power Delivery Network (PDN) Tool 2.0 User Guide

ID 683293
Date 8/24/2021
Public
Document Table of Contents

1.2.1. PDN Circuit Topology

The PDN tool 2.0 is based on a lumped equivalent model representation of the power delivery network topology.

Figure 1. PDN Topology Modeled as Part of the Tool The PDN impedance profile is the impedance-over-frequency looking outward from the device.

For a first order analysis, the VRM can be simply modeled as a series-connected resistor and inductor as shown above. This is a result of the typical proportional, integral, derivative (PID) voltage regulation loop compensation configuration of many regulators. The VRM has a very low impedance and can respond to the instantaneous current requirements of the FPGA up to between 50 kHz and 150 kHz, depending on the voltage regulation loop crossover (0 dB) frequency.

The equivalent series resistance (ESR) and equivalent series inductance (ESL) values can be obtained from the VRM manufacturer. At higher frequencies, the VRM impedance is primarily inductive, making it incapable of meeting the transient current requirement.

PCB decoupling capacitors are used for reducing the PDN impedance up to 50-100 MHz. The on-board discrete decoupling capacitors provide the required low impedance. This depends on the capacitor-intrinsic parasitics (RcN, CcN, LcN) and the capacitor mounting inductance (LmntN). The inter-planar capacitance between the power-ground planes typically has lower inductance than the discrete decoupling capacitor network, making it more effective at higher frequencies up to 100 MHz. As frequency increases, the PCB decoupling capacitors become less effective. The limitation comes from the parasitic inductance seen with respect to the FPGA. FPGA parasitic inductance includes capacitor mounting inductance, PCB spreading inductance, ball grid array (BGA) via inductance, and packaging parasitic inductance. All of these parasitics are modeled in the PDN tool 2.0 to capture the effect of the PCB decoupling capacitors accurately. To simplify the circuit topology, all parasitics are represented with lumped inductors and resistors despite the distributed nature of PCB spreading inductance.