Characterization of the Power Distribution Network for Commercialized STM32s Using a Resonance Frequency Measurement Method

Power integrity is a critical aspect of microcontroller (MCU) system design. The present tendency of increasing current density and operating frequency, along with decreasing operating voltage, significantly diminishes voltage margins. Given the cost efficiency required for MCU systems, this context...

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Main Authors: Marie Peyrard, Gilles Jacquemod, Nicolas Froidevaux
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of Low Power Electronics and Applications
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9268/14/4/52
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author Marie Peyrard
Gilles Jacquemod
Nicolas Froidevaux
author_facet Marie Peyrard
Gilles Jacquemod
Nicolas Froidevaux
author_sort Marie Peyrard
collection DOAJ
description Power integrity is a critical aspect of microcontroller (MCU) system design. The present tendency of increasing current density and operating frequency, along with decreasing operating voltage, significantly diminishes voltage margins. Given the cost efficiency required for MCU systems, this context places important constraints on the design of the power distribution network (PDN), which directly impacts power supply noise. Therefore, characterizing the PDN is necessary. This paper introduces a cost-effective measurement and modeling method to estimate the die-package resonance frequency of the PDN, a major threat to power integrity. The method, applied to two 32-bit MCUs from STMicroelectronics with varying PDN configurations, enables the identification of the die-package resonance frequency. The results lead to the refinement of the die capacitance model for both cases, with a maximum relative error of less than 7%. The final objective is to implement the measurement system in the die in order to adjust the PDN if necessary.
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spelling doaj-art-0127f47bbbe34e89a6354cfb562422642025-08-20T02:55:45ZengMDPI AGJournal of Low Power Electronics and Applications2079-92682024-11-011445210.3390/jlpea14040052Characterization of the Power Distribution Network for Commercialized STM32s Using a Resonance Frequency Measurement MethodMarie Peyrard0Gilles Jacquemod1Nicolas Froidevaux2Polytech’Lab, Université Côte d’Azur, UPR UniCA 7498, 06903 Sophia Antipolis, FrancePolytech’Lab, Université Côte d’Azur, UPR UniCA 7498, 06903 Sophia Antipolis, FranceSTMicroelectronics, 13106 Rousset, FrancePower integrity is a critical aspect of microcontroller (MCU) system design. The present tendency of increasing current density and operating frequency, along with decreasing operating voltage, significantly diminishes voltage margins. Given the cost efficiency required for MCU systems, this context places important constraints on the design of the power distribution network (PDN), which directly impacts power supply noise. Therefore, characterizing the PDN is necessary. This paper introduces a cost-effective measurement and modeling method to estimate the die-package resonance frequency of the PDN, a major threat to power integrity. The method, applied to two 32-bit MCUs from STMicroelectronics with varying PDN configurations, enables the identification of the die-package resonance frequency. The results lead to the refinement of the die capacitance model for both cases, with a maximum relative error of less than 7%. The final objective is to implement the measurement system in the die in order to adjust the PDN if necessary.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9268/14/4/52microcontrollerpower distribution networkresonance frequencysystem modeling
spellingShingle Marie Peyrard
Gilles Jacquemod
Nicolas Froidevaux
Characterization of the Power Distribution Network for Commercialized STM32s Using a Resonance Frequency Measurement Method
Journal of Low Power Electronics and Applications
microcontroller
power distribution network
resonance frequency
system modeling
title Characterization of the Power Distribution Network for Commercialized STM32s Using a Resonance Frequency Measurement Method
title_full Characterization of the Power Distribution Network for Commercialized STM32s Using a Resonance Frequency Measurement Method
title_fullStr Characterization of the Power Distribution Network for Commercialized STM32s Using a Resonance Frequency Measurement Method
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of the Power Distribution Network for Commercialized STM32s Using a Resonance Frequency Measurement Method
title_short Characterization of the Power Distribution Network for Commercialized STM32s Using a Resonance Frequency Measurement Method
title_sort characterization of the power distribution network for commercialized stm32s using a resonance frequency measurement method
topic microcontroller
power distribution network
resonance frequency
system modeling
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9268/14/4/52
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AT gillesjacquemod characterizationofthepowerdistributionnetworkforcommercializedstm32susingaresonancefrequencymeasurementmethod
AT nicolasfroidevaux characterizationofthepowerdistributionnetworkforcommercializedstm32susingaresonancefrequencymeasurementmethod