AN 750: Using the Altera PDN Tool to Optimize Your Power Delivery Network Design

ID 683155
Date 7/08/2015
Public
Document Table of Contents

1. AN 750: Using the Altera PDN Tool to Optimize Your Power Delivery Network Design

This application note provides guidance on the estimation of FPGA current requirements for the design of a robust FPGA Power Delivery Network (PDN). It provides guidance on how to improve the efficiency of the PDN with the Altera PDN Tool, with an objective of reducing the number of PCB mounted decoupling capacitors.

Altera provides a PDN tool that is based on an Microsoft Excel spreadsheet used to calculate an impedance profile based on user inputs. This PDN Tool helps design a robust PDN, estimate its performance and optimize decoupling solutions and reduce cost. The PDN Tool can be used to analyze all FPGA power supply rails.

This application note should be read in conjunction with the PDN Tool User guide, and PowerPlay Early Power Estimators (EPE) and PowerPlay Power Analyzer.

For more information on PDN design refer to Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Power Delivery Network (PDN) Design Methodology and on the Altera Board Design Resource Center.