EPC announces the introduction of a 100 V, 65 A integrated circuit chipset designed for 48 V DC-DC conversion used in high-density computing applications and in 48 V BLDC motor drives for e-mobility, robotics, and drones.

The EPC23101 eGaN IC plus EPC2302 eGaN FET offers a new ePower Chipset capable of a maximum withstand voltage of 100 V, delivering up to 65 A load current, while capable of switching speeds greater than 1 MHz.

EE World Online
December, 2021
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Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) introduces the ePower Chipset family that integrates 100 V GaN driver and FETs up to 65 A offering higher performance and smaller solution size for high power density applications including DC-DC conversion and motor drives.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— December 2021 — EPC announces the introduction of a 100 V, 65 A integrated circuit chipset designed for 48 V DC-DC conversion used in high-density computing applications and in 48 V BLDC motor drives for e-mobility, robotics, and drones.

The EPC2070 offers power systems designers a 100 V, 23 mΩ, power transistor capable of 34 A pulsed in an extremely small chip-scale package.  These new devices are ideal for applications such as 60 W, 48 V power converters, Lidar, and LED lighting.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — December 2021 — Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) announces the EPC2070, a 100 V GaN transistor with a maximum R_DS(on) of 23 mΩ and a 34 A pulsed output current for high efficiency power conversion in a tiny 1.1mm² footprint.

Today, the permanent magnet motor, also known as DC brushless motor (BLDC), is widely used and offers higher torque capability per cubic inch and higher dynamics when compared to other motors. So far, silicon-based power devices have been dominant in the inverter electronics, but today their performance is nearing their theoretical limits. There is an increasing need for higher power density. Gallium nitride (GaN) transistors and ICs have the best attributes to satisfy these needs.

Power Systems Design
November, 2021
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The EPC9145 GaN-based inverter enhances the performance of the motor for range, precision, torque, and, as a bonus, eliminates the electrolytic capacitors for lower overall system cost and higher reliability. The extremely small size allows integration into the motor housing for the lowest EMI, highest density, and lowest weight.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— November, 2021 — EPC announces the availability of the EPC9145, a 1 kW, 3-phase BLDC motor drive inverter using the EPC2206 eGaN^® FET

November 3, 2021 - Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC), the world’s leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride on silicon (eGaN^®) power FETs and ICs, has won the Product of the Year 2021 – Power Semiconductor/Driver IC of the prestigious World Electronics Achievement Awards (WEAA) for EPC21601 eToF™ Laser Driver IC.

The WEAA scheme honors products that have made outstanding contributions to the innovation and development of the electronics industry worldwide. A committee comprising of ASPENCORE global senior industry analysts and online users worldwide select the winners. ASPENCORE is the largest electronics industry media and SaaS group in the world featuring media titles including EE Times and EDN.

As the outer reaches of the Earth’s atmosphere and space are opened to commercial development, motors will become increasingly important to systems places there for various functions. With the inevitability of manufacturing in space, motors – including their drivers – will take on even more functions. Of equal importance will be the motor drivers selected to drive those motors efficiently and reliably.

Components in Electronics
October, 2021
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The EPC9163 is a two-phase, 48 V – 12 V bidirectional converter that delivers 2 kW with 96.5% efficiency in small solution size for mild-hybrid cars and battery power backup units.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— November, 2021 — EPC announces the availability of the EPC9163, a 2 kW, two-phase 48 V – 12 V bidirectional converter that operates with 96.5 % efficiency in a very small footprint. The design of this demonstration board is scalable; that is, two converters can be paralleled to achieve 4 kW or three converters can be paralleled to achieve 6 kW. The board features eight EPC2218 100 V eGaN^® FETs and is controlled by a module that includes the Microchip dsPIC33CK256MP503 16-bit digital controller.

EPC introduces the 40 V, 1.3 milliohm EPC2067 eGaN^® FET offering designers a device that is smaller, more efficient, and more reliable than MOSFETs for high-performance, space-constrained applications.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — October 2021 — Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, the world’s leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride on silicon (eGaN) power FETs and ICs, expands the selection of low voltage, off-the-shelf gallium nitride transistors with the introduction of the EPC2067 (1.3 mΩ typical, 40 V) eGaN FET. 

A 50 W, 12 V to 60 V eGaN^® FET-based synchronous boost converter achieves 95.3% peak efficiency with low temperature rise with a simple, low-cost topology.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— October, 2021 — EPC announces the availability of the EPC9162, a bi-directional buck or reverse-boost converter.  This demonstration board features the 100 V EPC2052 for the synchronous converter, and the EPC2038 in the synchronous bootstrap FET circuit. 

This month has been a busy one in the FET space. Here are a few FETs from EPC, UnitedSiC, and Intel that depart from traditional silicon transistors in interesting ways.

All About Circuits
October, 2021
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The design of an LLC resonant converter illustrates how eGaN FETs can shrink the physical size of modern supply circuitry.

Power Electronic Tips
October, 2021
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GaN devices and applications, such as lidar, DC-DC conversion, motor drive, and low-cost satellites using gallium nitride FETs and ICs, form the focus of this book, GaN Power Devices and Applications.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — October 2021 — Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, the world’s leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride on silicon (eGaN) power FETs and ICs, announces the publication of a valuable learning resource for professional engineers, systems designers, and electrical engineering students seeking the latest information on gallium nitride technology and applications. 

GaN transistors and ICs increase power density in motor drive applications. An optimal lay-out approach allows obtaining ring-free output switching waveforms and clean current reconstruction signals either from leg shunts or from in-phase shunts.

EEPower
October, 2021
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The new gallium nitride (GaN) family aims to deliver time-of-flight (ToF) applications for autonomous cars and 3D sensing across the consumer and industrial sectors. In an interview with EE Times, Alex Lidow, CEO at EPC, highlighted how introducing the eToF Laser Driver family’s for LiDAR system design at a low cost competes with the Mosfet when it comes to LiDAR applications.

EEWeb
September, 2021
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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — September 2021 — Idle power consumption and overall efficiency were key concerns of innosonix GmBH when designing its latest high-end Maxx Series multi-channel power amplifier. By changing from traditional silicon FETs to EPC’s EPC2059 eGaN FET the company reduced idle loss by 35% and lowered the on resistance to increase the total power efficiency by 5%.

The EPC2059 is a 6.8 mΩ, 170 V enhancement-mode gallium nitride (eGaN) transistor offering superior audio performance for high-end amplifier applications. The low on resistance and low capacitance of the EPC2059 enables high efficiency and lowers open loop impedance for low Transient Intermodulation Distortion (T-IMD). The fast-switching capability and zero reverse recovery charge enable higher output linearity and low cross over distortion for lower Total Harmonic Distortion (THD).

Gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors allow for innovation in the harsh radiation environments of space applications.

Electronics Weekly
September, 2021
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Unlike silicon, whereby specific manufacturing processes and packaging are required to insulate semiconductors from the effects of radiation, GaN devices are largely resistant to the damage caused by space radiation due to their physical characteristics and structure. In an interview with Alex Lidow, CEO at EPC, Power Electronic News have discovered the features of GaN for space applications.

Power Electronics News
September, 2021
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EPC introduces the 40 V, 1.6 milliohm EPC2069 eGaN^® FET, offering designers a device that is smaller, more efficient, and more reliable than currently available devices for high performance, space-constrained applications.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — September 2021 — Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, the world’s leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride on silicon (eGaN) power FETs and ICs, advances the performance capability of low voltage, off-the-shelf gallium nitride transistors with the introduction of the EPC2069 (1.6 mΩ typical, 40 V) eGaN FET. 

Over the past decade computers, displays, smart phones and other consumer electronics systems have become thinner while also becoming more powerful. As a result, the market continues to increase its demand for thinner power supply solutions with greater power density. This article examines the feasibility of adopting various non-isolated dc-dc step-down topologies for an ultra-thin 48 V to 20 V rated to 250 W. It examines the pros and cons of various non-isolated topologies and how the topology impacts the choice of the power transistors and magnetics, specifically the inductors, as these two components account for the bulk of the losses in a converter. The article also undertakes a detailed analysis of the challenges to design thin inductors for these applications, including examining the factors that drive inductor losses, inductor size, and the design tradeoffs, including the impact on EMI. For this work, an ultrathin multilevel converter topology was selected, built, and tested. The experimental results obtained from this converter were used to further refine the operating setting and component selections that resulted in a peak efficiency exceeding 98%.

Michael de Rooij, EPC
Quentin Laidebeur, Würth Elektronik

IEEE Power Electronics Magazine
September, 2021
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