Data processing ICs—such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), systems on a chip (SoCs), and microprocessors—continually increase their reach into
telecommunications, networking, industrial, automotive, avionics, and defense systems. One common thread throughout these systems is ever-increasing processing power, resulting in corresponding increases in raw power requirements. Designers are well aware of the thermal management problems of high-power processors but may not consider the thermal management issues of power supplies. Not unlike the transistor-packed processors themselves, worst-case thermal problems are inevitable when low core voltages require high current—the overall trend for the power supplies for all data processing systems.
