More Efficient • Smaller • Lower Cost
The demand for information is growing at an unprecedented rate with no signs of slowing. Historically, the power needed to support this rapidly growing demand comes from our electrical grid, and goes through multiple conversion stages before it feeds the remaining energy into a digital semiconductor chip, losing efficiency in each stage.
Traditionally, power conversion has been accomplished using silicon-based power transistors. The advent of commercial and cost-effective gallium nitride (GaN) power transistors and integrated circuits signals a new age in power electronics.
GaN-Based 48 V – 12 V Intermediate Bus Conversion:
- Efficiency >96% Efficiency
- Density > 1000 W/in3
- Cost < $0.06 per Watt (> 500 ku)
Emerging computing applications demand more power in much smaller form factors. In addition to the expanding needs of the server market, some of the most challenging applications are multi-user gaming systems, autonomous cars, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency mining.
These advance computing applications are putting higher demands on the power converters. Silicon-based power conversion is not keeping pace…
GaN technology increases the efficiency, shrinks the size, and reduces system cost.
Single-Stage Power Conversion: 48 V – Point-of-Load (POL)
The benefits of GaN-based power converters enable new power delivery approaches that improve overall system efficiency, increase power density, and save costs. Eliminating the intermediate conversion stage and taking 48 V direct to system-level power brings many benefits; improved system performance, lower-loss power distribution, easier thermal management, space savings, and lower system cost and lower operating costs.
GaN FET vs. MOSFET: 48 V – 1.8 V DC-DC Conversion
Reference Designs for 48 VBUS
GaN-Based Point-of-Load Conversion:
Higher Frequency, Higher Efficiency, Smaller Size
Mobile devices are expected to perform an ever-growing array of power-hungry tasks, yet remain small and lightweight, and with extended battery life. To meet these demands, point-of-load (POL) DC-DC converters (the power engines) need to be designed to be small sized and as efficient as possible.
Reducing the size and decreasing the power consumption of the core power electronics is critical to keep pace with these demands. These demands translate to ever faster switching frequencies and GaN-based power devices help eliminate the speed bumps to higher converter frequencies and will drive the next generation of mobile computing.
Reference Designs for Point-of-Load