分解權力架構（FPA）提供更高的密度、效率和靈活性

　　壓力與每一代新的電子系統一起轉換，以最大限度地提高效率、密度和速度。在過去幾十年中，為了追求這一目標，電力體系結構從集中式電源架構（CPA）發展到分布式電源（DPA）和中間總線體系結構（IBA），以減少配電損耗，提高整個系統的效率和密度。

　　雖然圖1所示的IBA在一段時間內一直是首選的電源架構，因為它充分解決了整個系統板上的負載擴散問題，但很可能會遇到困難。為什么？因為領先的處理器和存儲器現在的特點是低于1 V的電壓，電流要求超過100安培，和非常快的瞬態響應。

　　Figure 1： In the IBA architecture， the intermediate bus converter （IBC） provides isolation and transformation to intermediate voltage. The non-isolated POL （niPOL） regulator provides the final regulated step-down voltage to the load.

　　However， even under such conditions， power systems designers are challenged to provide high density， high efficiency solutions that cost effectively offer the desired electrical performance. Overcoming such uphill battles of rising power consumption and cost is forcing designers to look beyond IBA to alternative solutions.

　　To surmount the limitations of traditional AC to DC converters and distributed architectures， along with meeting new， emerging system requirements – higher power density at higher input voltages， lower output voltages， and higher load currents and efficiencies – requires totally new， integrated approaches. Toward that end， Vicor has developed a novel proprietary solution called factorized power architecture （FPA）。 According to Vicor’s white paper1 entitled “Factorized Power Architecture and V?I Chips”， FPA retains every desirable attribute of CPA， DPA and IBA. However， by disintegrating the classic function of DC-DC converters， FPA and its novel power conversion building blocks， PRMs and VTMs， are capable of providing efficient power system solutions from the wall plug to the processor core.