Industrial PhD Project by Shuangyue Yang

Project: 30 Passive Power Interposer Technology for High-power Integrated Power Supplies
Supervisor: Flemming Jensen

Project Description
Lotus-Microsystems (LMS) is at the forefront of transforming power supply systems for portable electronics like mobile phones and wearables. Traditionally, miniaturization focused on active components, but in modern systems, up to 90% comprises bulky and energy-consuming passive devices. LMS addresses this challenge with its innovative Power Interposer Technology (PIT), enabling downsizing by 70% and reducing heat by 25°C. PIT has outperformed existing technologies, handling 2x more power in simulations, with future iterations promising 3x-4x more power efficiency. The bottleneck lies in integrating inductors due to limitations in magnetic material quality and deposition technology.

In collaboration with DTU Nanolab and DTU Electro, this industrial Ph.D. project aims to advance PIT towards passive PIT. By utilizing Through-Silicon Vias (TSVs) for in-silicon inductor fabrication, LMS seeks to enhance inductor performance 2-3 times. Additionally, integrating Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) for magnetic materials, combined with innovative designs involving sub-μm deep silicon trenches, will push the boundaries of PIT-based Integrated Voltage Regulators (IVRs) further. The project’s focus is to pioneer a fabrication technology platform for highly integrated 3D magnetic devices, specifically for very-high-frequency (VHF) power converters. The outcomes will immediately benefit LMS’s existing products and shape the next generation of their offerings, reinforcing LMS’s technological superiority and fostering future collaborations with research institutions