Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Single-stage 48V-to-1V regulated solutions for high-performance processors become increasingly popular. This paper presents a full-bridge transformer-based buck converter with the current-doubler rectifier. The transformer adopts a half-turn winding structure for reduced resistance and leakage inductance. Operating principles of the converter with the half-turn transformer and the converter’s optimized printed circuit board layout are illustrated. Synchronous rectifiers are integrated in high-frequency loops and are treated carefully to reduce parasitic-inductor-induced loss. With the help of recent advances in gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon transistors, a 48V-to-1.8V GaN-based prototype switching at 700 kHz is constructed, which achieves 95.34% peak efficiency, 92.79% full-load efficiency (including gating loss) and 576 W/in3 power density with 50-A current per phase. The same hardware achieves 94.00% peak efficiency and 89.75% full-load efficiency with 55-A current per phase in 48V-to-1.0V conversion. Experimental results with 54-V input are also included in this paper, demonstrating the great potential of the single-stage solution for future data centers.
