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How GaN is Bringing Automotive-Qualified iToF to Production

How GaN is Bringing Automotive-Qualified iToF to Production

GaN Talk – John Glaser , Ph.D. Apr 24, 2025

As demand surges for precise 3D sensing in automotive and industrial applications, indirect time-of-flight (IToF) systems are gaining traction. Developers need a flexible, affordable path to prototyping with components that are ready for qualification and deployment. That’s where the EPC91116 evaluation board comes in.

Powered by the AEC-Q101 qualified EPC2203 eGaN® FET, the EPC91116 offers a high-performance, cost-effective solution for driving laser diodes with fast, high-current pulses. With pulse widths as low as 5 ns and support for operation up to 100 MHz, the EPC91116 demonstrates how can delivers the kind of speed, precision, and scalability that today’s 3D sensing systems require at a low cost.

EPC2203: Tiny Transistor, Tremendous Performance

At the center of the EPC91116 design is the EPC2203, an 80 V, 17 A(pulsed) eGaN FET with an impressively small 0.9 mm × 0.9 mm footprint. Despite its size, the EPC2203 delivers ultrafast switching thanks to its exceptionally low total gate charge (QG) of just 670 pC and low RDS(on) of 80 mΩ. These characteristics make it ideal for high-frequency, high-current applications like IToF laser driving.

This board allows developers to evaluate the EPC2203’s capabilities under realistic operating conditions, using practical bus voltages up to 40 V and peak currents above 10 A. All of this comes with the bonus of full AEC-Q101 qualification, bringing your design one step closer to automotive production readiness.

Simplified Gate Drive

One of the most impressive aspects of the EPC91116 is how it simplifies the gate drive requirements. Instead of relying on expensive or complex gate driver ICs, the board uses the 74LVC2T45GS-Q100X—an off-the-shelf, low-cost CMOS bidirectional level translator, also AEC-Q100 qualified.

By paralleling the level translator’s outputs, the EPC91116 achieves reliable GaN switching up to 100 MHz. Furthermore, though the board input is designed for 3.3 V CMOS logic, a simple modification allows any input logic voltage node from 1.2 V to 5.0 V for ultimate versatility. This shows that high-frequency GaN performance doesn’t have to come with high system cost, making IToF more accessible for cost-sensitive applications like automotive driver monitoring, in-cabin sensing, and object detection.

Block diagram of EPC91116 evaluation board
Figure 1: Block diagram of EPC91116 evaluation board

Laser-Ready, User-Friendly

To make prototyping easier, the EPC91116 ships with the EPC9989 interposer board—a set of breakaway PCBs that support a variety of laser diode packages and load configurations. This flexibility enables designers to use their preferred components without re-spinning the board or sacrificing signal integrity.

The EPC91116’s design focuses on reducing parasitic inductance in the power loop, a critical factor when driving narrow, rectangular pulses. Careful PCB layout and integrated measurement points make it easier to observe the performance of your laser or load without introducing probe-related artifacts.

Waveforms from the beginning of a 1000-cycle, 50 MHz burst on EPC9116
Figure 2: waveforms from the beginning of a 1000-cycle, 50 MHz burst at a burst repetition frequency of 100 Hz waveform, driving a laser load. The laser supply voltage is VBUS = 5 V and and the laser is an ams OSRAM EGA2000-940-W VCSEL mounted directly to the EPC91116 (without interposer).

Narrow Pulse Generator for Extra Control

Not every signal generator can deliver clean, fast pulses out of the box. The EPC91116 includes a built-in Narrow Pulse Generator (NPG) to solve that problem. This onboard circuit takes an incoming signal and outputs a precisely timed, adjustable-width pulse—ideal for achieving repeatable laser drive characteristics, even with basic test equipment.

With just a jumper setting and a tweak to an onboard potentiometer, you can dial in pulse widths from 5 ns to 60 ns, helping you simulate real-world conditions without investing in expensive lab gear.

Automotive Design Insights, Built In

Beyond its out-of-the-box functionality, the EPC91116 serves as an invaluable reference design for engineers. Whether you're planning a discrete iToF implementation or laying the groundwork for future integration, the board shows how to:

  • Minimize loop inductance with smart PCB layout
  • Drive GaN FETs with cost-effective off-the-shelf components
  • Implement thermal paths and copper ground planes for better heat dissipation
  • Accommodate different logic levels (1.2–5.5 V) with a single gate driver
  • Perform high-bandwidth waveform measurements

Application Versatility Beyond iToF

While the EPC91116 was designed with laser drivers in mind, it’s also a strong candidate for other fast-switching power applications. Its topology and layout make it suitable for:

  • Class-E and F amplifiers
  • Boost, flyback, and SEPIC converters
  • High-speed pulse power systems
  • Any application that benefits from a ground-referenced, fast-switching eGaN FET

Getting from Design to Production Today

If your roadmap includes automotive-grade IToF, the EPC91116 provides a clear, cost-effective path forward—with qualified components, flexible prototyping, and cutting-edge GaN performance.

Ready to start prototyping?

Download the datasheets, schematics, and layout files here: EPC91116 Evaluation Board
Or contact EPC to learn how GaN can accelerate your next-gen sensing system.

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