ABSTRACT

Todays ASICs and processors typically operate on a low voltage and therefore require
high current. This means that if they are placed at any distance from the power supply
or DC-DC converter that feeds them, transmission losses can become an issue.
Because of resistance and therefore voltage drop in the power path between the
converter and load, the voltage across the load will be lower than that across the
converters output terminals. The difference is given by I x R, where I is the current
drawn by the load and R is the resistance of the power path.

On a PCB, the power path is usually provided by the PCBs power plane, so R is
relatively small. However, as mentioned, I can be large so the voltage drop between
the converter and load can be significant. This is even more important in a low
voltage/high current environment, because a loss of say 0.5 V is a much higher
proportion of a 3 V target voltage than it is of 48 V.

Some applications may not require the remote sense feature. If so, the remote sense
lines should not simply be left open, as the power supply could drive upwards to an
unwanted and possibly destructive level. Instead, the power supply should be
configured in local sense mode, with a low-value resistor connected between the S+
and V out+ terminals, and another between S-and V out-.

West cor products make this particularly easy and reliable to set up, as they have 5
resistors pre-installed in parallel with the remote sense circuits. They also have
Westcors Autosense capability, which allows them to use the remote sense lines if
connected, or automatically switch to the 5 resistors if not. This feature protects the
Westcor products against open loop mode failure as well as simplifying configurations
with no remote sense connections. Similar provision can be made for other Vicor
products by using externally-connected low-value resistors.

It should be remembered that remote sense wires are part of the power supplys
control loop, so any radiated noise they pick up can introduce instability into the
power system. This can be mitigated by using light-gauge wiring which is viable as
the sense lines draw minimal current and twisting the S+ and S- wires together in
addition to shielding them.