Single chip driver with eGaN FET ‘redefines’ power conversion
Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) claims to have redefined power conversion as it releases the first IC in the ePower stage IC family.
According to the company, it offers higher performance and smaller solution size for high power density applications including DC/DC conversion, motor drive, and Class-D audio.
The company has introduced the 80V, 12.5A power stage IC designed for 48V DC/DC conversion used in high-density computing applications and in motor drives for e-mobility.
The EPC2152 is a single-chip driver with eGaN FET half-bridge power stage using EPC’s proprietary GaN IC technology. Input logic interface, level shifting, bootstrap charging and gate drive buffer circuits along with eGaN output FETs configured as a half-bridge are integrated within a monolithic chip. The resulting chip-scale LGA form factor device measures 3.9 x 2.6 x 0.63mm.
The EPC2152 ePower Stage achieves peak efficiency above 96 per cent when operated in a 48 to 12V buck converter at 1.0MHz switching frequency. Additionally, the solution is 33 per cent smaller on the PCB compared to an equivalent multi-chip discrete implementation, EPC confirms.
This is the first offering in a family of integrated power stages available in chip scale packages (CSPs) as well as multi-chip quad flat modules (QFMs). EPC predicts that within a year, the family will include products capable of operating at high frequency up to 3.0 to 5.0MHz range as well as high current from 15 to 30A per power stage.
The company expects the family to make it easy for designers to take advantage of GaN technology and realise its “significant performance improvements”. Integrated devices in a single chip are easier to design, easier to layout, easier to assemble, save space on the PCB and increase efficiency.
To evaluate the EPC2152 Integrated ePower Stage, the company also offers the EPC90120 development board. This is an 80V maximum device voltage, 12.5A maximum output current, half bridge featuring the EPC2152 Integrated ePower Stage. The 2.0 x 2.0-inch (50.8 x 50.8mm) board is designed for optimal switching performance.
