LLC resonant converters have emerged as the preferred topology for an intermediate 48 V to 12 V conversion due to their high efficiency, high power density and good dynamic response. The outstanding performance resulting from the combination of this topology with GaN transistors has been demonstrated in the past. This article presents how the newest generation of GaN devices, such as those from EPC, continues to push the envelope even further.

Bodo’s Power Systems
November, 2023
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The EPC9159 is a 1 kW, 48 V/ 12 V, LLC converter in a tiny 17.5 mm x 22.8 mm footprint for state-of-the-art power density of 5130 W/in³. 

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— September 2023 — EPC announces the availability of the EPC9159, a 48 V / 12 V, LLC converter designed for high-density 48 V server power and DC-DC converters. This reference design can deliver 1 kW of power in a tiny 17.5 mm x 22.8 mm footprint for a power density of 5130 W/cm³. This is achieved by employing gallium nitride (GaN) power switches operating at high switching frequencies in both the primary and secondary circuits.

EPC, a leader in enhancement-mode gallium-nitride (GaN) FETs and ICs, delivered multiple technical presentations on GaN technology and showcased applications at PCIM Europe 2023 in Nuremburg. We spoke with the company's Founder and CEO, Alex Lidow, about the power industry and how it's being impacted by GaN devices.

Electronic Design
May, 2023
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With the increase in government mandates to combat climate change, automakers are moving quickly to leverage new technology to respond by switching from the internal combustion engine to electric-drive vehicles. This article presents the design of a 2 kW, two-phase 48 V/12 V bi-directional converter using GaN FETs that achieves 96% efficiency and is targeted for the 48 V mild hybrid system.

PSD North America
March, 2023
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Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) introduces the 200 V, 10 mΩ EPC2307 that completes a family of six GaN transistors rated at 100V, 150V, and 200V, offering higher performance, smaller solution size, and ease of design for DC-DC conversion, AC/DC SMPS and chargers, solar optimizers and microinverters, and motor drives.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— January 2023 — EPC, the world’s leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride FETs and ICs, introduces the 200 V, 10 mΩ EPC2307 in a thermally enhanced QFN in a tiny 3 mm x 5 mm footprint.

An exploration of a GaN-based design of a 2 kW 48V/12V bi-directional power module for 48 V mild hybrid electric vehicles.

Electronics Today
January, 2023
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Power-conversion technologies are experiencing the first tectonic shift since the move from bipolar to MOS. That shift, of course, is due to the viral adoption of wide-bandgap power devices. At this point, GaN is more than a specialty technology; it is a broad-scale replacement for silicon MOSFETs in applications ranging from 30 V up to 650 V — a multibillion-dollar market.

Power Electronics News
December, 2022
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Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) introduces the 150 V, 3 mΩ EPC2305 and the 200 V, 5 mΩ EPC2304 GaN FETs offering higher performance and smaller solution size and cost for DC-DC conversion, AC/DC SMPS and chargers, solar optimizers and microinverters, and motor drives.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— December 2022 — EPC, the world’s leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride FETs and ICs, introduces the 150 V, 3 mΩ EPC2305 and the 200 V, 5 mΩ EPC2304 GaN FETs in a thermally enhanced QFN package with exposed top and tiny 3 mm x 5 mm footprint.

Growing computational power and miniaturization of electronics in computing and data centers is increasingly putting pressure on 48-V power delivery and conversion systems. High-efficiency and high-power–density converters enable a reduction in power losses at the system level while allowing smaller form factors. In this context, LLC resonant topologies combined with GaN technology succeed to deliver outstanding performance, as it has been demonstrated with multiple examples. This article will show the key design parameters and components to achieve beyond 4 kW/in3 of power density in a 48-V to 12-V LLC converter using eGaN^® FETs.

Power Electronics News
December, 2022
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EPC introduces two new 80 V AEC-Q101 qualified GaN FETs, offering designers significantly smaller and more efficient solutions than silicon MOSFETs for automotive 48 V- 12 V DC-DC conversion, infotainment, and lidar for autonomous driving.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — November 2022 — Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, the world’s leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride (eGaN^®) FETs and ICs, expands the selection of automotive, off-the-shelf gallium nitride transistors with the introduction of 80 V, 6 mΩ EPC2204A that delivers 125 A pulsed current in a 2.5 mm x 1.5 mm footprint and the 80 V, 3.2 mΩ EPC2218A that delivers 231 A pulsed current is a 3.5 mm x 1.95 mm footprint, offering designers significantly smaller and more efficient devices than silicon MOSFETs for automotive DC-DC for 48V-12V conversion, infotainment, and lidar for autonomous driving.

Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) introduces the 80 V, 4 mOhm EPC2619 GaN FET in tiny 1.5 mm x 2.5 mm footprint, offering higher performance and smaller solution size than traditional MOSFETs for high power density applications, including DC-DC conversion, motor drives, and synchronous rectification for 12 V – 20 V.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— November 2022 — EPC, the world’s leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride (GaN) power FETs and ICs, launches the 80 V, 4 mOhm EPC2619. This is the lead product for a new generation of eGaN devices that have double the power density compared to EPC’s prior-generation products.

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
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Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) introduces the 100 V, 3.8 mΩ EPC2306 GaN FET, offering 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.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— September 2022 — EPC, the world’s leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride (eGaN^®) power FETs and ICs, expands the selection of off-the-shelf GaN FETs in thermally enhanced QFN packages with the introduction of the 100 V EPC2306 designed for 48 V DC-DC conversion used in high-density computing applications, in 48 V BLDC motor drives for e-mobility and robotics, and in solar optimizers and microinverters, and Class D Audio.

Easy Engineering interviewed EPC’s Director of Marketing, Renee Yawger, on the current state of GaN adoption and the future of GaN technology.

Easy Engineering
May, 2022
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EPC introduces the 100 V, 2.2 mΩ EPC2071 GaN FET, offering designers a significantly smaller and more efficient device than silicon MOSFETs for high-performance, space-constrained applications.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — May 2022 — Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, the world’s leader in enhancement-mode gallium nitride (eGaN^®) power FETs and ICs, expands the selection of low voltage, off-the-shelf gallium nitride transistors with the introduction of the EPC2071 (1.7 mΩ typical, 100 V) GaN FET. 

Users of GaN FETs and ICs now have a tool to determine the derating needed in an application and reduce voltage derating factors. EPC has developed a first principle physics-based model to explain RDS(on) rise in GaN transistors under hard switching conditions. This article provides demonstrations for two synchronous rectification application examples.

Electronic Specifier
May, 2022
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As servers move to 48V, GaN transistors will beat today's silicon MOSFETs, leading to better performance and cost.

Data Center Dynamics
March, 2022
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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
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EPC’s GaN Experts will be available during APEC, exhibiting various demonstrations showcasing how GaN technology’s superior performance is transforming the delivery of power across many industries, including computing, communications, and emobility.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — March 2022 — The EPC team will be delivering multiple technical presentations, as well as a professional seminar on gallium nitride (GaN) technology and applications at the IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC 2022) in Houston from March 20^th through the 24^th (See detailed schedule below). In addition, the company will demonstrate its latest eGaN^® FETs and ICs in a large variety of customer end products in booth #1307.

A bidirectional converter developed by gallium nitride specialist EPC in collaboration with MPS operates at an advertised peak efficiency of 97 percent.

EETimes
February, 2022
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