GaN technology has matured to a point where it can challenge traditional silicon technology.  Gallium nitride(GaN)-on-silicon low voltage power devices have enabled many new applications since commercial availability began in 2010. New markets, such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR), envelope tracking, and wireless power, emerged due to the superior switching speed of GaN. These new applications have helped develop a strong supply chain, low production costs, and an enviable reliability record. All of this provides adequate incentive for the more conservative design engineers in applications, such as DC/DC converters, AC/DC converters, and automotive to start their evaluation process. In this article, the factors leading to the rapid acceleration of the adoption rate are explored.

Electronics Weekly
January 2019
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Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) expands AEC Q101 product family with the addition of two new gallium nitride devices.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— January 2019 — EPC announces successful AEC Q101 qualification of two additional eGaN devices, addressing a range of applications in the automotive industry and other harsh environments.  The new products, EPC2206, and EPC2212 are both discrete transistors in wafer level chip-scale packaging (WLCS) with 80 V_DS and 100 V_DS ratings respectively.

Within the EPC hospitality suite, wirelessly powered systems for the home and GaN based, industry-leading LiDAR systems used in autonomous vehicles will be on display.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — December 2018 — Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) will be demonstrating the power of eGaN^® technology to enhance two game-changing consumer applications – wireless power and LiDAR for self-driving cars – at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January 8^th through the 11^th.

As part of its expansion to support a widening customer base for DC-DC, LiDAR, wireless power applications and beyond, Efficient Power Conversion Corporation has expanded its Asia-based team with new members who are in close proximity to customers in 21 regions throughout Asia Pacific.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — November 28, 2018 — To support its accelerating sales growth in Asia, Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) is proud to announce the expansion of the sales and FAE team in Asia Pacific to support its expanding customer base, maximize new business acquisition and capture new market opportunities.

Last week, Anker debuted a tiny new power brick, crediting its small size with the component it uses instead of silicon: gallium nitride (GaN). It’s the latest example of the growing popularity of this transparent, glass-like material that could one day unseat silicon and cut energy use worldwide.

The Verge
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With the power architecture transition from a 12 V to a 48 V bus power distribution in modern data centers, there is an increased demand to improve 48 V power conversion efficiency and power density. In this context, DC-DC converters designed using eGaN^® FETs and ICs provide a high efficiency and high power density solution. Additionally, with the advent of 48 V power systems in mild-hybrid, hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, GaN transistors can provide a reduction in size, weight, and Bill of Materials (BOM) cost.

Power Systems Design
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With the emergence of the 48V bus architecture, a new hybrid converter using gallium nitride (GaN) transistors can be employed which achieves a peak efficiency that exceeds 95% and with 225W/in³ power density. Of great interest for data center applications, where light load efficiency is critical for energy savings, the converter efficiency is kept higher than 90% down to a 20% load.

PowerPulse
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In this episode of the PSDcast, we’re talking to Alex Lidow from Efficient Power Conversion about gallium nitride’s (GaN) application in connected automobiles.

Power Systems Design
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Based on the authors' years of extensive experience, this is an authoritative overview of Wide Bandgap (WBG) device characterization.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – September 2018 – Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (www.epc-co.com) announces the publication by the Institution of Engineering and Technology of Characterization of Wide Bandgap Power Semiconductor Devices co-authored by EPC Senior Applications Engineer, Dr. Edward A. Jones. This textbook provides essential tools to assist researchers, advanced students, and practicing engineers in performing both static and dynamic characterization of WBG devices, particularly those based on using silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors. The book presents practical considerations for real applications and includes examples of applying the described methodology.

Spirit's Marti McCurdy and EPC's CEO Alex Lidow discuss the performance and cost benefits of gallium nitride over silicon and how leading companies the world over work with EPC to develop their next gen technologies with the power of GaN.

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In recent years, GaN-based power conversion has increased in popularity due to the inherent benefits of eGaN FETs over conventional Si transistors. Migrating a converter design from Si to GaN offers many system-level improvements, which require consideration of all the components in that system. This trend has subsequently spurred a growth in the ecosystem of power electronics that support GaN-based designs.

Power Systems Designs
By Edward A. Jones, Michael de Rooij, and David Reusch
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As GaN-on-Si becomes more common in DC-DC converter designs, questions often arise from experienced designers about the impact of the unique characteristics of GaN transistors when used as synchronous rectifiers (SRs). In particular, the third quadrant off-state characteristics, better known as “body diode” conduction in Si MOSFETs, which is activated during converter dead-time, is of interest. For this article, the focus will be on the similarities and differences of Si MOSFETs and eGaN^® FETs when operated as a “body diode” and outline their relative advantages and disadvantages.

Bodo’s Power Systems
By David Reusch & John Glaser
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The EPC2050 offers power systems designers a 350 V, 65 mΩ, 26 A power transistor in an extremely small chip-scale package.  These new devices are ideal for applications such as multi-level converters, EV charging, solar power inverters, and motor drives.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — April 2018 — Efficient Power Conversion announces the EPC2050, a 350 V GaN transistor with a maximum R_DS(on) of 65 mΩ and a 26 A pulsed output current. Applications include EV charging, solar power inverters, motor drives, and multi-level converter configurations, such as a 3-level, 400 V input to 48 V output LLC converter for telecom or server power supplies.

EPC2112 and EPC2115 GaN-based monolithic integrated solutions offer power systems designers the ability to increase efficiency in an extremely small size.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — March 2018 — Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) announces the EPC2112 and EPC2115 enhancement-mode monolithic GaN power transistor with integrated driver products. The EPC2112 is a 200 V, 40-mΩ eGaN^® FET plus integrated gate driver. In comparison, the EPC2115 is an integrated circuit with dual 150 V, 70-mΩ eGaN FETs plus gate drivers. Both products are capable of operating up to 7 MHz and are available in low inductance, extremely small, 2.9 mm x 1.1 mm BGA surface-mount passivated die.

Alex Lidow and his team of Michael de Rooij, David Reusch, and John Glaser gave an excellent technical tutorial this morning to a packed audience of Professional Engineers (PEs). The topic was a very timely ‘Maximizing GaN FET and IC performance: Not just a drop-in replacement of MOSFETs’.

Planet Analog
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Efficient Power Conversion’s EPC9204 and EPC9205 power modules demonstrate the efficiency enhancements and significant size reduction achieved in DC-DC power conversion using high frequency switching eGaN^® power transistors and integrated circuits.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— March 2018 — Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) introduces two new GaN power modules for DC-DC conversion, increasing efficiency across the 48 V to point-of-load power architecture. The EPC9205 is a high-power density PCB-based power module for 48 V – 12 V conversions while the EPC9204 address the 20 V – point-of-load conversion with an ultra-thin profile PCB-based power module.

Efficient Power Conversion’s EPC9130 five-phase development board demonstrates the extreme size reduction and efficiency enhancement for power conversion achieved using high frequency switching eGaN^® power transistors.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— March 2018 —Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) introduces EPC9130 48 V − 12 V non-isolated, fully regulated development board.  This five-phase board with 12 A per phase has a maximum output current of 60 amps, making the board capable of over 700 W. The EPC9130 provides extremely high-power density exceeding 1250 W per cubic inch, and over 96% efficiency.

EPC will exhibit live demonstrations showing how GaN technology’s superior performance is transforming power delivery for entire industries including computing, communications, and automotive.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — February 2018 — The EPC team will be delivering seven technical presentations on gallium nitride (GaN) technology and applications at APEC 2018 in San Antonio, Texas from March 4^th through the 8^th. In addition, the company will demonstrate its latest eGaN FETs and ICs in customers’ end products that are enabled by eGaN technology.

Two space travel related stories hit my desktop this week; one that rapidly generated major international headlines and one that slid very quietly onto my email screen.

The headline-hitter was the successful launch of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket with its payload of a Tesla sports car, complete with a dummy driver at the wheel. The second was about Gallium Nitride technology that would be suitable for space applications.

Electro Pages
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SL70040SEH Low Side GaN FET Driver Powers ISL7002xSEH GaN FETs in Launch Vehicle and Satellite Power Supplies

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced the space industry’s first radiation-hardened, low side Gallium Nitride (GaN) field effect transistor (FET) driver and GaN FETs that enable primary and secondary DC/DC converter power supplies in launch vehicles and satellites, as well as downhole drilling and high reliability industrial applications. These devices power ferrite switch drivers, motor control driver circuits, heater control modules, embedded command modules, 100V and 28V power conditioning, and redundancy switching systems.

Business Wire
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