GaNの話

As AI infrastructure, humanoid robots, drones, autonomous machines and space systems push power electronics toward higher efficiency and power density, gallium nitride (GaN) is moving into increasingly demanding applications. At PCIM Asia 2026 in Shenzhen, Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) will showcase its latest GaN technology while offering a preview of where the company believes the technology is heading next. The event, taking place August 26–28, will be particularly relevant for designers working on AI power delivery and intelligent motion systems. EPC will demonstrate its GaN portfolio across the power-conversion chain, from 800 VDC distribution to point-of-load conversion, while its roadmap points toward two developments with potentially broader implications: Gen 8 GaN for ultra-high-frequency, low-voltage power conversion and Trinity, EPC’s approach to highly integrated GaN motor drives.

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Gallium nitride (GaN) is transforming power electronics from low-voltage motor drives to megawatt-class AI data centers. In this interview, EPC details how seventh- and upcoming eighth-generation GaN devices outperform silicon by up to 5x in capacitance, area, and power density, unlocking 40V-and-below markets and advanced point-of-load conversion for GPUs. The discussion spans high-performance robotics on 48 V buses, multi-level ISOP topologies for 800 V systems, rapid prototyping via reference designs, and the growing role of GaN in space applications.

The EPC91123 is a 6 kW GaN-based DC‑DC converter reference design that delivers an isolated 800 V to 12.5 V conversion for AI servers and high‑performance computing. It uses an input‑series output‑parallel (ISOP) architecture with eight interleaved LLC modules, each processing about 750 W. Primary switches are 150 V EPC2305 GaN FETs, while secondary synchronous rectification uses 40 V EPC2366 devices, enabling operation around 1 MHz. This architecture reduces magnetics size, EMI, and thermal hotspots, achieving over 98% peak efficiency and more than 97% efficiency near full load at nearly 500 A output.

At PCIM, Mike Engelhardt, creator of LTspice and QSPICE, explains why traditional SPICE—originally built for IC design—struggles with accurately simulating power devices, especially GaN FETs. He reviews historical capacitance models (Meyer, Yang–Chatterjee), their limitations for VDMOS and GaN, and describes how QSPICE introduces a native GaN MOSFET model (level 2026) with accurate charge, output capacitance, and quasi-saturation behavior. Engelhardt details numerical improvements, proper handling of transcapacitances, and performance gains that make QSPICE a faster, more robust power electronics simulator.

Artificial intelligence is moving from chatbot conversations to autonomous AI agents working together on huge data sets – and the data center is becoming an AI factory. These next generation facilities require unprecedented computer power which in turn brings new challenges of power delivery, thermal management and energy efficiency. To help address these challenges, NVIDIA has created the NVIDIA MGX™ architecture, a modular platform that accelerates the deployment of AI infrastructure. But the real potential of MGX can only be realized with equally advanced power conversion technology.

このプレゼンテーションでは、AIデータセンターや産業自動化向けの数キロワットのDC-DCコンバータにおいて、低電圧GaNデバイスが、いかに従来の高電圧ソリューションを上回ることができるかについて解説します。Michael de Rooijは、多段ISOP構成を採用することで、熱の分散、インタリーブによる電流リップルの大幅な低減、低電圧対応の磁気部品の簡素化、EMI（電磁干渉）雑音の低減、導通損失の改善といった利点があります。効率や電力密度の低下を最小限に抑える実用的な制御手法と共に、2種類の高出力コンバータ（800 V入力、12 V出力と800 V入力、50 V出力）の試作機についても詳しく紹介します。

PCIMにおいて、Efficient Power Conversion（EPC）は、シリコンMOSFETを上回る高効率、高周波、高電力密度が得られる窒化ガリウム（GaN）技術の急速な進歩を展示しました。Alex Lidow（アレックス・リドウ）は、AIサーバーの電源アーキテクチャ（800 Vから6～12 Vへの変換）や高周波POL（Point-of-Load：負荷点）コンバータに最適化した電圧範囲が150 Vから18 Vの新しい第7世代GaNデバイスを発表しました。ロボットやドローン向けの高度に統合したGaNモーター駆動回路のロードマップについても概説し、小型化、保護機能、将来的な電流検出機能の統合を強調しました。

ロボットや UAV のシステムにおける小型電気モーターの普及によって、高度に集積化した高効率なモーター駆動用電子回路への需要が高まっています。人型ロボットの関節、ロボットの手、軽量ドローンの推進システムといった用途では、極めて限られた機械的スペースの中で高い電流密度を備えパワー・コンバータが求められています。

このビデオでは、直流800 Vの電力分配とISOPコンバータを使った新しいサーバー用電源アーキテクチャを紹介します。高密度AIサーバー・ラック向けに、800 V → 50 Vの電源棚ソリューションと、800 V → 12.5 Vの基板直結設計を比べて、GaNデバイス（EPC2305/EPC2366）や磁束相殺の技術、最大98%に達する効率測定について解説します。 ビデオを見る