News: Microelectronics
22 March 2023
EPC adds 15A and 25A devices to 100V power stage IC range
Efficient Power Conversion Corp (EPC) of El Segundo, CA, USA — which makes enhancement-mode gallium nitride on silicon (eGaN) power field-effect transistors (FETs) and integrated circuits for power management applications — has introduced two new 100V power stage ICs rated at 15A (EPC23104) and 25A (EPC23103). The two devices join the 100V 35A power stage IC EPC23102.
The three ICs are capable of a maximum withstand voltage of 100V and integrate a complete GaN half-bridge power stage that includes symmetrical FETs in half-bridge configuration, half-bridge driver, level shifter, bootstrap charging, and input logic interface.
The three devices feature a thermally enhanced QFN package measuring only 3.5mm x 5mm with exposed top for dual-side cooling and wettable flanks. Footprint compatibility enables customers to upgrade their design for better performance or lower cost without modification to the board, and therefore can easily adapt to changing load requirements.
In DC–DC applications, the devices can operate with high efficiency at high switching frequency (3MHz maximum) and offer higher performance and smaller solution size for 28V–60V DC–DC in computing, industrial and USB PD 3.1 applications.
In 32V–48V BLDC motor drives for e-mobility, robotics, power tools and drones, the device can operate with small deadtimes (21ns) and at 100kHz to increase the system efficiency due to less motor core losses and vibrations, and to reduce or eliminate the electrolytic capacitors.
“The ePower family of products makes it easy for designers to take advantage of the significant performance improvements made possible with GaN technology,” says CEO & co-founder Alex Lidow. “Integrated devices are easier to design, easier to layout, easier to assemble, save space on the PCB, and increase efficiency. Designers can use these devices to make lighter-weight and more precise brushless DC (BLDC) motor drives, higher-efficiency 48V input DC–DC converters, higher-fidelity class-D audio systems, and other industrial and consumer applications.”
The development boards EPC90151 and EPC90152 are half-bridge demo boards featuring the EPC23103 and the EPC23104 ePower Stage IC, respectively. The purpose of the boards is to simplify the evaluation process of the EPC23103 and the EPC23104. These 2” x 2” (50.8mm x 50.8mm) boards are designed for optimal switching performance and contain all critical components for easy evaluation.
The EPC23103 is priced at $3.75 each in 1000-unit volumes. The EPC23104 is priced at $3.00 each in 1000-unit volumes. The EPC90151 and EPC90152 development boards are priced at $200 each. All devices and boards are available for immediate delivery from distributor Digi-Key Corp.
EPC launches 100V, 35A GaN ePower Stage IC for 48V applications
