Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for embedding a global barrier and global interrupt network in a parallel computer system organized as a torus network. The computer system includes a multitude of nodes. In one embodiment, the method comprises taking inputs from a set of receivers of the nodes, dividing the inputs from the receivers into a plurality of classes, combining the inputs of each of the classes to obtain a result, and sending said result to a set of senders of the nodes. Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for embedding a collective network in a parallel computer system organized as a torus network. In one embodiment, the method comprises adding to a torus network a central collective logic to route messages among at least a group of nodes in a tree structure.

Abstract: A cold plate structure, wherein a thermally active region includes fins metal injection molded in a single piece with a fin base sufficiently thin so that the active region mechanically conforms to the heat generating device that the cold plate cools. The fin base is formed as a common structure with a bottom wall of the cold plate, reducing thermal resistance between the device and the fins and also enhancing mechanical flexibility. Another cold plate structure can include multiple thermally active regions, with flexible outer walls and a reduced thickness between active regions, allowing for position variation between multiple heat generation devices that are cooled by the common cold plate. A common base having multiple physically separate active regions can be metal injection molded in a single step, or bases of multiple active regions can be formed individually and joined later to form a common single cold plate structure.

Abstract: An assembled circuit board has a topology that defines positions, dimensions and power dissipation of components mounted to the circuit board, including a high power component and one or more low power components. A cold plate makes thermal contact to the high power component through a thermal interface material. A thermally conductive sheet overlays the circuit board and is formed to match the topology of the low power component or components. The sheet has a first portion that makes thermal contact with the cold plate and a second portion that overlays the low power component or components. The cold plate removes heat directly from the high power component and indirectly through the thermally conductive sheet from the low power component or components. The thermally conductive sheet conforms to the topology of the low power components either by preforming or by flexibility.

Abstract: An assembled circuit board has a topology that defines positions, dimensions and power dissipation of components mounted to the circuit board, including a high power component and one or more low power components. A cold plate makes thermal contact to the high power component through a thermal interface material. A thermally conductive sheet overlays the circuit board and is formed to match the topology of the low power component or components. The sheet has a first portion that makes thermal contact with the cold plate and a second portion that overlays the low power component or components. The cold plate removes heat directly from the high power component and indirectly through the thermally conductive sheet from the low power component or components. The thermally conductive sheet conforms to the topology of the low power components either by preforming or by flexibility.

Abstract: A multi-phase buck switching converter having grouped pairs of phases, each phase using two magnetically coupled air-core inductors. For each group, a first driver circuit controlling switching of a first power transistor switching circuit coupled to a first air-core inductor output for driving an output load at the first phase. A second driver circuit controlling switching of a second power transistor switching circuit coupled to a second air-core inductor output for driving said output load at the second phase. The first and second phases are spaced 180° apart. The coupled air-core inductors per group of such orientation, separation distance and mutual inductance polarity relative to each other such that magnetic coupling between the two or more inductors at each phase results in a net increase in effective inductance per unit volume. Each air-core inductor is a metal slab of defined length, height and thickness formed using back-end-of-line semiconductor manufacturing process.

Abstract: Printed circuit board (PCB), electrical structures including PCBs, and methods for making the same. One PCB structures includes: a substrate having a plurality of surfaces, including a first aerial main face (AMF), a second AMF, and a first peripheral end face (PEF), wherein the first PEF separates the first AMF from the second AMF, and a first plurality of contacts embedded in the first PEF, where each of the first plurality of contacts forms a contiguous contact with the first PEF and at least one of i) the second AMF, ii) the first AMF, and iii) another one of the plurality of surfaces.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes, for a substrate having a first region protected by a cap layer, forming a first device on a second region of the substrate. The substrate includes an insulator layer disposed between a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer each including a first semiconductor material. The method further includes forming a second device on the first region, including forming one or more transistors each having a channel formed from a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a chamber and a pressure-relief element. The chamber includes a coolant in a liquid phase disposed near a heat-generation object. The coolant in the liquid phase dissipates heat from the heat-generation object and is converted from the liquid phase to a vapor phase upon the coolant in the liquid phase reaching a boiling temperature. The pressure-relief element has a conduit. A first end of the conduit is submerged in the coolant in the liquid phase internal to the chamber and a second end of the conduit is connected to atmosphere external to the chamber.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a chamber and a pressure-relief element. The chamber includes a coolant in a liquid phase disposed near a heat-generation object. The coolant in the liquid phase dissipates heat from the heat-generation object and is converted from the liquid phase to a vapor phase upon the coolant in the liquid phase reaching a boiling temperature. The pressure-relief element has a conduit. A first end of the conduit is submerged in the coolant in the liquid phase internal to the chamber and a second end of the conduit is connected to atmosphere external to the chamber.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first circuit formed on a substrate in a first region, a second circuit formed on the substrate in a second region and including one or more transistors, and connections between the first circuit and respective gates of the transistors of the second circuit. The substrate includes a first semiconductor material and the second circuit includes one or more transistors having channels formed from a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material.

Abstract: A multi-phase buck switching converter having grouped pairs of phases, each phase using two magnetically coupled air-core inductors. For each group, a first driver circuit controlling switching of a first power transistor switching circuit coupled to a first air-core inductor output for driving an output load at the first phase. A second driver circuit controlling switching of a second power transistor switching circuit coupled to a second air-core inductor output for driving said output load at the second phase. The first and second phases are spaced 180° apart. The coupled air-core inductors per group of such orientation, separation distance and mutual inductance polarity relative to each other such that magnetic coupling between the two or more inductors at each phase results in a net increase in effective inductance per unit volume. Each air-core inductor is a metal slab of defined length, height and thickness formed using back-end-of-line semiconductor manufacturing process.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) structure and mounting assembly for joining two PCBs. A first PCB has a top and bottom surface faces and a peripheral end face separating the top and bottom surface. The first PCB has one or more conductive wire ends exposed at a surface of the peripheral end face; the exposed conductive wire ends forming multiple separate electrical contacts across the thickness and length of the PEF surface. A second PCB has a top surface face and one or more conductive pads exposed at the top surface at locations corresponding to locations of the multiple electrical contacts. A surface mount solder material is disposed on one or more exposed conductive pads for electrically connecting with corresponding the multiple electrical contacts. The disposed solder material stably joins the PEF surface of the first PCB to the top surface of the second PCB in a relative perpendicular orientation.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) structure and mounting assembly for joining two PCBs. A first PCB has a top and bottom surface faces and a peripheral end face separating the top and bottom surface. The first PCB has one or more conductive wire ends exposed at a surface of the peripheral end face; the exposed conductive wire ends forming multiple separate electrical contacts across the thickness and length of the PEF surface. A second PCB has a top surface face and one or more conductive pads exposed at the top surface at locations corresponding to locations of the multiple electrical contacts. A surface mount solder material is disposed on one or more exposed conductive pads for electrically connecting with corresponding the multiple electrical contacts. The disposed solder material stably joins the PEF surface of the first PCB to the top surface of the second PCB in a relative perpendicular orientation.

Abstract: A structure for a network switch. The network switch may include a plurality of spine chips arranged on a plurality of spine cards, where one or more spine chips are located on each spine card; and a plurality of leaf chips arranged on a plurality of leaf cards, wherein one or more leaf chips are located on each leaf card, where each spine card is connected to every leaf chip and the plurality of spine chips are surrounded on at least two sides by leaf cards.

Abstract: A power-delivery system may comprise a load device and a direct-current converter configured to deliver current to the load device when the direct-current converter is in an on state. The power-deliver system may comprise a voltage-measurement system configured to measure, at a beginning of each measurement cycle in a cyclic measurement pattern, a voltage at the load device. The power-deliver system may comprise a power controller configure to receive, at the beginning of each measurement cycle, the measurement of the voltage, and to perform, at the beginning of a control cycle in a cyclic control pattern, a voltage-control decision in response to a change in the measurement of the voltage being below a voltage-change threshold. The voltage-control decision may comprise whether to switch the state of the first direct-current converter. The cyclic control pattern may operate at a first frequency, and the measurement pattern may operate at a second frequency.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first circuit formed on a substrate in a first region, a second circuit formed on the substrate in a second region and including one or more transistors, and connections between the first circuit and respective gates of the transistors of the second circuit. The substrate includes a first semiconductor material and the second circuit includes one or more transistors having channels formed from a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material.

Abstract: A cold plate structure, wherein a thermally active region includes fins metal injection molded in a single piece with a fin base sufficiently thin so that the active region mechanically conforms to the heat generating device that the cold plate cools. The fin base is formed as a common structure with a bottom wall of the cold plate, reducing thermal resistance between the device and the fins and also enhancing mechanical flexibility. Another cold plate structure can include multiple thermally active regions, with flexible outer walls and a reduced thickness between active regions, allowing for position variation between multiple heat generation devices that are cooled by the common cold plate. A common base having multiple physically separate active regions can be metal injection molded in a single step, or bases of multiple active regions can be formed individually and joined later to form a common single cold plate structure.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a chamber and a pressure-relief element. The chamber includes a coolant in a liquid phase disposed near a heat-generation object. The coolant in the liquid phase dissipates heat from the heat-generation object and is converted from the liquid phase to a vapor phase upon the coolant in the liquid phase reaching a boiling temperature. The pressure-relief element has a conduit. A first end of the conduit is submerged in the coolant in the liquid phase internal to the chamber and a second end of the conduit is connected to atmosphere external to the chamber.

Abstract: An electrical connector carries large amounts of electrical current between two circuit boards with low resistance and low self-inductance by means of an interdigitated anode and cathode, thereby providing low dynamic voltage loss. The connector also may include, near where power will be consumed, an interposer board with on-board capacitance to provide even lower dynamic voltage loss. The connector has application to delivering low-voltage, high-current power from a power supply on a first board to electronics on a second board: the low resistance provides low voltage drop for a load current that is constant, while the low inductance and the capacitors provide low voltage fluctuation for a load current that changes. These issues are of great importance, for example, in designing high-performance computers.

Abstract: An assembled circuit board has a topology that defines positions, dimensions and power dissipation of components mounted to the circuit board, including a high power component and one or more low power components. A cold plate makes thermal contact to the high power component through a thermal interface material. A thermally conductive sheet overlays the circuit board and is formed to match the topology of the low power component or components. The sheet has a first portion that makes thermal contact with the cold plate and a second portion that overlays the low power component or components. The cold plate removes heat directly from the high power component and indirectly through the thermally conductive sheet from the low power component or components. The thermally conductive sheet conforms to the topology of the low power components either by preforming or by flexibility.