This paper deals with the application of the latest generation low voltage (up to 80 V) Gallium Nitride (GaN) devices for motor drive applications in the field of electric micro-mobility. A two-level inverter topology oriented to light electric traction (such as electric scooters) with a power rate of 1500 W has been considered. An experimental board using two GaN FETs in parallel connection for each switch of an inverter leg has been arranged. The intrinsic parameters spread of the device, as well as the leakage inductances of both the circuit and the PCB, to evaluate the impact on the current share during both the transient phase and in the steady state have been investigated. In the paper, several simulation runs have been carried out and described. Furthermore, the inverter experimental board has been used to evaluate the phase voltages and currents at different load conditions. Finally, the temperature limits versus phase current variation have been evaluated.

IEEE 2022 AEIT International Annual Conference (AEIT)
Read article

Note: This site requires IEEE membership to access full paper.

In this article EPC explains the improved performance in their Gen 6 GaN FETs and how the resulting devices can achieve the same R_DS(on) as previous generation devices in die that are half the size.

How2Power
November, 2022
Read article

EPC’s mission is to make GaN power devices that are higher performance and lower cost compared to silicon. GaN devices increase power density, improve efficiency and enable new applications and with the rising cost of energy globally, it is no surprise that the adoption rate of our GaN devices is accelerating dramatically.

Bodo’s Power Systems
November, 2022
Read article

With increasing legislation aimed at higher fuel efficiency standards, vehicle manufacturers are searching for cost-effective solutions to meet these demands while still providing the power required for ever-increasing electronically driven functions.  This article details a bi-directional high power converter for mild-hybrid cars and battery backup units using GaN FETs to achieve efficiency exceeding 96% when converting from 48 V to 14.3 V at 500 kHz switching frequency.

Power Electronics Europe
Read article

From Nov. 15 to 18, electronica 2022 will bring the international electronics industry together at the Munich exhibition grounds. Wide Bandgap Semiconductors, Renewable Energies, Smart Grid, and Energy Storage will be the major topics covered by the Power Electronics Forum at electronica 2022. In this podcast, onsemi president and CEO Hassane El-Khoury, Silanna Semiconductor North America CEO Mark Drucker, and of Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) CEO Alex Lidow will introduce the Power Electronics Forum. Interview with Alex Lidow starts at 31:55

EETimes
Listen to podcast

GaN devices have gone from initial R&D to mainstream designs over the last 15 years. Unfortunately, there are many misunderstandings left-over from those early-stage bipolar drive circuit developments or dead-end technology branches. One of the most pernicious is the topic of bipolar drive. In actuality, unipolar drives are the best way to drive eGaN^® FETs.

Power Electronics Tips
October, 2022
Read article

Gallium nitride devices are leading the innovation in power conversion. The benefits of GaN-based inverters are becoming increasingly evident in motor drive applications.

Power Electronics News
October, 2022
Read article

As the level of automation increases in machines, detailed awareness of the surroundings becomes necessary. Time-of-flight based 3D imaging systems have become the eyes of machines. eGaN^® technology has been the workhorse of laser drivers for these systems, enabling the resolution to make intelligent decisions.

Bodo’s Power Systems
October, 2022
Read article

In this article, different power loop layouts are analyzed with simultaneous considerations for thermal management and electric parasitics.

The results show that an improved layout can provide a significant reduction in operating temperature rise while maintaining electrical performance benefits.

EE Power
October, 2022
Read Article

There is a commonly held belief in the industry that GaN devices are wasted on inverters for electric motors. After all, if the performance of the system is restricted by the use of a 20KHz PWM, then there can be little benefit in using a material that gains the majority of its advantages from faster switching speeds. However, according to Marco Palma, Director of Motor Drives Systems and Applications at EPC, there are some ways that GaN can still prove effective in that role.

Power Systems Design
September, 2022
Read Article

EPC’s inverter reference design is based around a GaN chip to reduce powertrain sizes

E-mobility Engineering
September, 2022
Read Article

GaN FETs in thermally enhanced QFN packages offer higher performance and smaller solution size for high power density applications, including DC-DC conversion, AC/DC chargers, solar optimizers and microinverters, motor drives, and Class D Audio

Power Electronics News
September, 2022
Read article

Easy Engineering媒体采访了宜普电源转换公司（EPC）的市场营销总监Renee Yawger，了解目前氮化镓器件应用的情况和氮化镓技术的未来。

Easy Engineering
2022年5月
阅读文章

One way to tell when a new technology has passed the tipping point of adoption is by the voices advocating the status quo. The more conservative voices tend to cite older information that, given the fast change of trajectory that occurs at a tipping point, can lead to poor decisions for new designs. In the world of GaN power devices the tipping point occurred in the past two years when the rate of new GaN-based designs started to double year-on-year, and the legacy MOSFET designs started to face critical supply shortages due to their finely tuned, but less flexible supply chains. GaN devices, on the other hand, have remained in stock at most major distributors due to their relatively new and flexible supply chains utilizing older silicon foundries, but affording these foundries a new and vibrant future. In this article we will address some of the common misconceptions still showing up in articles and at conferences, usually presented by advocates of the status quo.

Bodo’s Power Systems
May, 2022
Read article

氮化镓场效应晶体管和集成电路的用户现在有了一个工具来确定应用中需要的降额和降额设计中应考虑的因素。宜普公司开发了一个基于第一原理的物理模型，以解释氮化镓晶体管在硬开关时，导通电阻如何上升。本文提供了两个同步整流应用实例的演示。

Electronic Specifier
2022年5月
阅读文章

本文介绍了基于氮化镓器件、具有120 VDC输入电压、工作频率为 6.7 MHz 的两相 DC/DC转换器。 120 VDC 是国际太空站 (ISS) 二次电路系统中的标准电压水平。

使用具备高功率密度和开关超快等优势的GaN FET ，Tell-I 公司新开发的 SDK 电路板使用两相来超越正常的开关速度。 多相配置支持用于 ISS 等系统的标准120-V 总线电压，让交错转换器在 3 MHz、5 MHz 和 6.87 MHz 下实现高效开关。使用四个 EPC2019 GaN FET和支持小型栅极驱动及功率环路的两个 LMG1210 栅极驱动器，可实现最佳和紧凑的布局。

Power Electronics News
2022年4月
阅读文章

The latest ePower™ integrated circuits based on gallium nitride technology by Efficient Power Conversion are revolutionizing motor drive applications such as industrial drones, e-bikes, scooters, power tools.

Bodo’s Power Systems
April, 2022
Read article

以碳化硅(SiC)、氮化镓(GaN)材料为主流的宽带隙(WBG)半导体功率器件，在节能永续意识抬头的今日成为各种功率系统应用的宠儿。2022年Tech Taipei研讨会首度以WBG器件为题，邀请业界重量级业者，从设计、制造、测试等不同面向与现场超过400位听众分享最新技术与应用趋势...

EE Times Taiwan
2022年3月25日
阅读文章

当数据中心的服务器转用48 V架构，氮化镓晶体管可以替代目前的硅MOSFET器件，性能得以进一步提升和成本可以更低。

Data Center Dynamics
2022年3月
读过的文章

Automotive 48 V/12 V converters are essential in modern hybrid electric vehicles, as the energy is exchanged between the 48 V and 12 V buses. This two-voltage system accommodates legacy 12 V systems and provides higher power for 48V to loads such as vacuum and water pumps, electric super chargers, steering, and audio systems. Among all the requirements for the 48 V/12 V converter, efficiency, power density, size and cost are on the top of the list. This article addresses these design criteria by employing the GaN ePower™ Stage, EPC23101, and compares it with a previous design using discrete EPC2206 devices.

Bodo’s Power Systems
March, 2022
Read article