EPC's chief executive, Alex Lidow, believes his GaN devices now beat silicon on performance and price, reports Rebecca Pool.

For EPC chief executive, Alex Lidow, this year's PCIM Europe 2019 has been all about applications. Presenting myriad enhanced-mode GaN FETs and ICs in end-products, the company is making a big play for 48 V DC-DC power conversion in advanced computing and automotives.

Compound Semiconductor
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This year’s PCIM Europe was attended by a record number of visitors, over 12,000. Over half (54%) were from outside Germany. They came to see over 500 exhibitors and while the subject matter was diverse and wide-ranging, there were some themes that emerged. GaN and SiC jostled for attention at this year’s PCIM Europe. Showing the potential that GaN has already realised, Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) had a stand that was well-stocked with examples of the eGaN FET technology that the company introduced in 2009.

Electronic Specifier
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宜普電源轉換公司（EPC）推出兩個全新100 V氮化鎵元件，可以支援伺服器及汽車應用的48 V轉換的要求。 我將在處理器、車用及能量存儲系統等方面探討48 V伺服器的功率轉換解決方案（可參考我的文章 “雙向DC/DC電源供電: 我們應該如何取向？”），未來將在EDN文章中看到。氮化鎵功率電晶體必需是這些不同架構的一部份 -- 我相信沒有其他更優越的元件可以替代氮化鎵元件了 。

Planet Analog
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宜普電源轉換公司的基於氮化鎵的元件乃前沿技術。在本影片，宜普公司的首席執行長Alex Lidow於APEC展會現場與 Alix Paultre分享多個design in項目，從而展示基於氮化鎵的元件的各種優勢。

Embedded Computer Design
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The Trilogy of Wireless Power Transfer consists of three parts: Basics Principles of Wireless Power Transmission, Wireless Power Transfer Systems and Applications. The first part of the book explains the basic physical principles and the different methods of contactless power transmission. Furthermore, the leading standards are presented in this part. The second part describes wireless power transfer systems, the different topologies of wireless power transmission, the right selection of transmitter and receiver coils required to increase efficiency, and the selection of transistors, for instance. The third part is dedicated to practical applications. This includes applications within the scope of the Qi standard, as well as examples of proprietary solutions. An overview of EMI-relevant topics for closely and loosely coupled systems, as well as an example of a multimode wireless power transmission system round out the practical part. The authors of the "Trilogy of Wireless Power Transfer" are Cem Som, Division Manager Wireless Power Transfer at Würth Elektronik eiSos; and Dr. Michael de Rooij, Vice President Applications Engineering at Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, Inc. The book costs 19 euros and can be ordered from Würth Elektronik eiSos or through bookstores.

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宜普電源轉換公司首席執行長兼共同創辦人Alex Lidow於APEC 2019展覽會的Ridley Engineering展覽攤位進行演講，題目是“矽已經死亡”。

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In this episode of PSDtv Alex Lidow, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) is at APEC 2019 in Anaheim and discusses why their GaN on Silicon devices make Silicon now dead.

PSDtv
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When the issue invariably turns to the packaging of the power semiconductor – transistor, diode, or integrated circuit – the requests for improvement fall into six categories:

1. Can you make the package smaller?
2. Can you reduce the package inductance?
3. Can you make the product with lower conduction losses?
4. Can you make the package more thermally efficient?
5. Can you sell the product at a lower price?
6. Can you make the package more reliable?

New converter topologies and power transistors promise to reduce the size and boost the efficiency of supplies that will run next-generation Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms. In all the topologies with 48 V_IN, the highest efficiency comes with using GaN devices. This is due to their lower capacitance and smaller size. With recent pricing declines in GaN power transistors, the cost comparison with silicon-based converters now strongly favors GaN in all the leading-edge solutions.

Power Electronic Tips
March, 2019
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In the final installment of this series, how GaN has met the requirements to displace silicon is explored. As the adoption rate of GaN explodes, it is important to remember that, while GaN has made many advancements in just a few short years, it is still far from its theoretical performance limitations and thus there are profound improvements that can continue to be achieved. In time, the performance and cost advantages of GaN-on-silicon will result in a majority of applications currently using silicon-based devices converting to the smaller, faster, cheaper, and more reliable GaN technology.

Power Systems Design
February, 2019
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氮化鎵元件對提升主流應用的效率的貢獻很大，例如在傳統矽基12 V - 1 V負載點 DC/DC轉換器。基於eGaN積體電路的12 V轉到1 V、12 A負載轉換器在5 MHz的頻率下，可以實現78%峰值效率及1000 W/in3 功率密度，而成本則低於每瓦0.2美元。

Power Systems Design
2019年1月
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氮化鎵技術已經成熟至可以挑戰傳統的矽技術。從2010年起，商用的低壓矽基氮化鎵功率元件實現了很多全新應用。具備高速開關性能的氮化鎵元件也推動了全新市場的出現，例如雷射雷達、波峰追蹤及無線電源市場。這些全新應用有助供應鏈的開發、實現低製造成本及良好的元件可靠性記錄。這一切對於比較保守的DC/DC轉換器、AC/DC轉換器及車載應用的設計工程師來說，是很好的理據，是時候開始對氮化鎵元件進行評了。本文探討加快採納氮化鎵元件的各項因素。

Electronics Weekly
2019年1月
文章連結

本章討論由於低壓矽基氮化鎵（GaN）元件具備超快速的開關速度，因此實現了很多全新應用的出現。這些應用推動了行業的改革，例如面向全自動駕駛車輛的雷射雷達（lidar)、面向5G通信應用的波峰追蹤，以及家用和用於辦公室的大面積無線電源技術。此外，我們會探討氮化鎵功率元件如何為手術用的機械人帶來精准的控制，從而推動了醫療行業的最新發展。

Power Systems Design
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In the first article in this series, how gallium nitride (GaN)-on-silicon low voltage power devices have enabled many new applications, such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR), envelope tracking, and wireless power was discussed. In this article, more detail on one of these leading applications, LiDAR, will be explored. How GaN is being used to make LiDAR systems that see farther, with higher resolution, and at lower cost will be shown.

Power Systems Design
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Last week, Anker debuted a tiny new power brick, crediting its small size with the component it uses instead of silicon: gallium nitride (GaN). It’s the latest example of the growing popularity of this transparent, glass-like material that could one day unseat silicon and cut energy use worldwide.

The Verge
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With the power architecture transition from a 12 V to a 48 V bus power distribution in modern data centers, there is an increased demand to improve 48 V power conversion efficiency and power density. In this context, DC-DC converters designed using eGaN^® FETs and ICs provide a high efficiency and high power density solution. Additionally, with the advent of 48 V power systems in mild-hybrid, hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, GaN transistors can provide a reduction in size, weight, and Bill of Materials (BOM) cost.

Power Systems Design
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在48 V匯流排架構出現後，我們可採用全新、基於氮化鎵（GaN）電晶體的混合式轉換器，以實現超過95%峰值效率及225 W/in³ 功率密度。對於節能的數據中心來說，輕負載效率非常重要。基於氮化鎵電晶體的轉換器在轉換至20%負載時，可保持高於90%的效率。

PowerPulse
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專為高效電源轉換而設的氮化鎵功率電晶體已經投產7年多了。全新的市場例如雷射雷達、波峰追蹤及無線電源，都成為氮化鎵的新興市場，因為氮化鎵具備超高速的的開關速度。這些市場使得氮化鎵產品得以量產、成本更低及具備優越的可靠性。這些優勢為比較保守的設計工程師提供更大的利好條件，因此，DC/DC轉換器工程師、AC/DC轉換器及車載應用工程師都開始對氮化鎵器件進行評估。要把120億美元的矽基MOSFET市場轉為氮化鎵市場，還有什麼壁壘呢？就是信心的問題。設計工程師、製造工程師、採購經理及管理層都必需對氮化鎵技術的優勢有足夠的信心、相信氮化鎵技術可以解決設計師對採用全新技術的風險的疑問。讓我們看看3個主要構成風險的因素：供應鏈、成本及產品的可靠性。

IEEE Spectrum
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當全自動車輛及電力推進系統成為車載應用發展的推動力，在矽基板上生成氮化鎵的功率元件的龐大新興市場正逐漸崛起。

Design World
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從2010年開始，自矽基氮化鎵（GaN）電晶體商用化後，低壓氮化鎵電晶體推動了很多全新應用的發展。氮化鎵元件具備超快速開關，推動全新市場諸如雷射雷達、波峰追蹤及無線電源市場的出現。這些全新應用進一步實現更強大的供應鏈、低製造成本及元件前所未有的高可靠性。這些優勢使得比較保守的設計工程師在DC/DC轉換器、AC/DC轉換器及車載等各種應用開始對氮化鎵元件進行評估。在本文章系列，我們將討論多種發揮氮化鎵元件優勢的應用，實現最終產品差異化的競爭優勢。首先，我們會探討是甚麼因素加快了氮化鎵元件的普及。

Power Systems Design
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