Comprehensive and practical optimization of voltage regulator modules

This paper offers a comprehensive optimization approach for voltage regulator modules (VRMs). Minimal material cost is achieved while specifications for transient response, steady-state operation, and efficiency are treated as constraints with equal priority. The power stage and the controller are designed as a whole system by combining time-domain and frequency-domain models. Practical solutions consist of actual devices that can be implemented without further bench iteration. Optimization examples regarding multiphase VRMs are discussed to highlight the method's flexibility and reliability. The optimization system showed potential to synthesize current VRM technology and provide useful insights.