Analytical Modeling and Design Methodology of Trans-Inductor Voltage Regulator with Fast Response

Data center equipment such as CPUs, ASICs, and FPGAs typically operate at low voltages and high currents, which are powered by traditional multiphase buck converters. However, the growing demand for data center equipment has increased current requirements and shortened the necessary response time. This demand has driven the need for a faster power delivery solution capable of rapidly responding to fluctuations. A new topology, the trans-inductor voltage regulator (TLVR), incorporates a trans-inductor (TL)—typically a 1:1 transformer—in each phase, providing a superior transient response by electrically coupling phases, thereby minimizing the impact of sudden load changes across phases. This study explores the TL model and presents a comparative analysis of a two-phase traditional buck converter and a TLVR buck converter during both steady-state and transient operations. SIMPLIS simulations of transient loads demonstrate that the TLVR topology achieves a faster response compared to the traditional buck topology, with quicker recovery and settling times.