El Segundo, CA – March 2025 – EPC is pleased to announce that the United States Patent Office, in a decision issued in IPR2023-01381, has strengthened the ’294 patent by adding two new patent claims that are fundamental to commercial enhancement-mode GaN devices. While the USPTO also cancelled two claims that were the basis for the ITC’s infringement decision against Innoscience, EPC will appeal the USPTO’s cancellation of its claims. Historically, EPC’s patents have been upheld in multiple jurisdictions, including both the U.S. and China, reinforcing EPC’s expectation that the final outcome will ultimately be in its favor.

El Segundo, CA — March 2025 – Efficient Power Conversion (EPC), the leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride (GaN) power transistors and ICs, introduces the EPC2367, a next-generation 100 V eGaN® FET that delivers superior performance, higher efficiency, and lower system costs for power conversion applications.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — February 2025 — EPC, the leader in gallium nitride (GaN) power devices, announces the release of its Phase 17 Reliability Report, further solidifying GaN’s position as a highly reliable technology for power electronics, automotive, AI, space, and industrial applications.

The latest reliability report introduces expanded lifetime models, mission-specific reliability projections, and new physics-based wear-out mechanisms, providing engineers with more accurate and practical reliability data for GaN power devices.

This part 1 article presents an overview of using low voltage GaN devices in high voltage applications, with examples of a 240 VAC source 5 kW totem pole PFC and 400 VDC to 50 VDC isolated LLC converter. A FOM analysis revealed significant improvement in performance can be achieved using lower voltage devices. The benefits extend to increased power density through reduced magnetic component size and lower EMI filter requirements.

In the run-up to the most important power event of the year, the Applied Power Electronics Conference, or APEC, PSD talks with EPC CEO and co-founder Alex Lidow about how GaN is revolutionizing AI infrastructure, humanoid robotics, and industrial and consumer applications.

Power Systems Design

EPC’s GaN Experts will be available during APEC, showcasing the latest generation of GaN FETs and ICs in a wide variety of applications.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — February 2025 — EPC, the world’s leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride (GaN)-based power solutions, is set to highlight cutting-edge advancements in AI, robotics, and other high-density power conversion applications at the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) 2025. During the event, held from March 16 to March 20 in Atlanta, GA, EPC will focus on demonstrating how GaN is revolutionizing AI infrastructure, humanoid robotics, industrial and consumer applications in booth 1231.

Gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistors (FETs) have revolutionized power electronics with their superior performance characteristics. However, like all power devices, heat management remains critical. Effective thermal design at the printed circuit board (PCB) level can substantially improve cooling without the need for a heatsink. This article presents simple thermal management guidelines maximizing heat conduction from the GaN FETs to the environment using just the PCB and optimizes thermal performance without the use of a heatsink.

Alex Lidow, CEO of Efficient Power Conversion (EPC), describes his journey in the semiconductor industry, his family’s legacy, and groundbreaking innovations in gallium nitride technology.

In this podcast Alex Lidow, CEO of EPC shares his journey in semiconductors and how he founded EPC to focus on GaN technology, recognizing its superior efficiency and potential over silicon. Looking ahead, Alex expresses excitement about emerging applications, such as humanoid robots, where GaN’s integration in motors, AI, and lidar could revolutionize industries.

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems have become the preferred method for enabling an automobile, an automated guided vehicle (AGV), or even a robotic vacuum to “see” its surroundings. Drones and higher-flying aircraft also use LiDAR to navigate and map terrain at greater distances. Though LiDAR has been well studied, designers must exercise great care when selecting key components such as the gate driver, the gate-switch FET, and the laser diode necessary to create the optical pulses. This article provides an overview of LiDAR. It then presents examples of the critical electro-optical components and shows how they work together to generate the necessary pulses.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— February 2025 — Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC), the world leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride (eGaN®) power devices is pleased to announce the release of the 4th edition of its groundbreaking textbook, GaN Power Devices for Efficient Power Conversion.

This latest edition reflects the rapid advancements in GaN technology and its transformative impact across various industries, including renewable energy, electric vehicles, data centers, robotics, and space applications. Co-authored by EPC CEO Dr. Alex Lidow and a team of GaN experts, the textbook remains an indispensable resource for engineers, students, and industry innovators looking to stay at the forefront of power electronics.

Society is undergoing a rapid transformation in automation, with humanoid robots emerging as a revolutionary way of addressing labour shortages, especially in developed countries with aging populations and declining birth rates. Designed to mimic human form and function, such robots are increasingly being integrated into healthcare, manufacturing and service industries. This article looks at how their complex operations will be powered.

The EPC91104 provides a versatile reference design, with optimized PCB layout, for wide input voltage range motor drive applications

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— January 2025 — Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC), the world leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride (eGaN®) power devices announces the launch of the EPC91104, a high-performance 3-phase BLDC motor drive inverter reference design. This innovative design is ideal for powering compact, precision motors in humanoid robots, such as those used for wrist, finger, and toe movements.

On July 3^rd, 2023, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced it would put in place certain restrictions on the exporting of gallium and germanium, among other materials, starting in August of this year. EPC’s wafer technology is ‘GaN-on-Si’, although the amount of gallium in each device is miniscule. There are significant sources of gallium available worldwide and EPC’s needs are relatively small, we expect no short or long-term interruption of supply.

Five times smaller than an equivalent silicon MOSFET and twice as powerful as the previous generation of eGaN devices is the new sixth generation of devices introduced by Efficient Power Conversion (EPC). We asked CEO Alex Lidow in the video.

Electroniknet.de
November 29, 2022
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This panel discussion from Electronica 2022 discusses the benefits and challenges for SiC and GaN in multiple application contexts, as well as the last barriers to overcome for widespread adoption, such as large-volume capabilities and prices.

Power Electronic News
January, 2023
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Aiming at laser time-of-flight lidar, Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) has introduced an 80V 15A pulse laser driver IC.

Electronics Weekly
January, 2023
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GaN power devices should be the ideal choice for power conversion applications in space because they are more robust than rad hard MOSFETs when exposed to various forms of radiation. The electrical and thermal performance of GaN has also demonstrated superior operation in a space environment. In this podcast, Bel Lazar, Chief Executive Officer of EPC Space, will analyze the importance of GaN for the space industry. In addition to his role as CEO of EPC Space, Bel currently serves as COO of Efficient Power Conversion (EPC).

EETimes
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The development of gallium nitride technology has ushered in a new age for power electronics. The greater bandgap, critical field, and electron mobility are the three factors that affect GaN technology the most. To concentrate on expanding motor drive applications based on GaN technology in the e-mobility, robotics, drone, and industrial automation areas, EPC has opened a new design application center close to Turin, Italy.

EE Times Europe
September, 2022
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The EPC2050 from Efficient Power Conversion is an Enhancement Mode GaN Power Transistor. It has a drain-source voltage of over 350 V, a drain-source on-resistance of 55 milliohms, and a gate threshold voltage of 1.3 V.

everything PE
April, 2022
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Mature, low-cost manufacturing and proven reliability spur use in EVs, smartphones, and consumer electronics.

Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) has logged more than 100 emerging applications for its eGaN FETs and ICs. Alex Lidow, the company’s CEO, said the five fastest-growing applications are lidar systems for robotics, drones, consumer products, driver alertness systems, and autonomous vehicles; DC-DC converters for AI systems, servers, and telecom power systems; motor drives for e-mobility and robotics; satellite systems, including motor drives and DC-DC power supplies that require radiation hardness; and solar power point trackers.

Semiconductor Engineering
December, 2021
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