Leakage-matched current sensing for coupled-inductor
This technology solves a measurement problem inside multi-phase voltage regulators — the power circuits that keep CPUs and other chips running at precise voltages. When voltage regulators use coupled inductors (a common design that saves cost and improves efficiency), accurately measuring how much current is flowing becomes difficult because the magnetic coupling distorts standard sensing methods. The invention adds a simple resistor-capacitor (RC) circuit in parallel with each inductor, tuned so that its time constant matches a specific electrical property of the inductor called leakage inductance divided by DC resistance. When these time constants match, the voltage on the capacitors becomes a clean, accurate proxy for total output current — giving the regulator's control loop the reliable feedback it needs.
What you could build
A current-sensing circuit block or design IP licensable to power management IC makers and voltage regulator module (VRM) manufacturers building multi-phase regulators for CPUs, GPUs, and data center compute cards. Primary buyers would be semiconductor companies and power module vendors serving the server and PC markets.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense electronics primes and data center operators with Virginia footprints (AWS, Microsoft, etc.) use high-density multi-phase VRMs extensively; power semiconductor IP licensors serving those supply chains would be the natural contact.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Yan Dong, Ming Xu, Fred C. Lee
- Granted
- June 19, 2007
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 7233132
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.