20 May 2016

Panasonic showcases GaN-based technologies at PCIM Europe

At the PCIM (Power Conversion Intelligent Motion) Europe 2016 event in Nuremberg, Germany (10-12 May), Panasonic Automotive & Industrial Systems Europe showcased its technology lineup, highlighting innovations including passive components, semiconductors and thermal management solutions that provide increased efficiency and reliability for a wide range of applications. These included an X-GaN gate driver.

With gallium nitride moving into mainstream production, Panasonic exhibited applications that harness the power of its GaN power transistors. Optimized for high-frequency switching, the newly released X-GaN gate driver unlocks the full performance of the X-GaN transistor while keeping design efforts to a minimum, says the firm. With fine control possible (0.5-99.5% @ 50kHz), the device benefits from a built-in precise current source optimized for GiT transistors and a built-in negative voltage source.

Panasonic also exhibited some example GaN applications: GaN-based compact power supply units and a GaN-based inverter for motors. Also featured were a GaN evaluation environment, GaN power devices, power modules (GaN- and SiC-based) as well as a bi-directional AC/DC converter for power storage systems (as an example SiC application).

In addition, for the first time in Europe, to showcase one of its applications Panasonic presented its prototype of assist robots that applies X-GaN technologies. Power assist suits for industrial applications have been developed by Activelink Co Ltd (one of Panasonic's in-house venture companies). Panasonic has applied X-GaN inverter technologies to ActiveLink's assist suit (which is equipped with motors that assist human body mechanics).

See related items:

Panasonic launching smallest E-mode 600V GaN power transistor

Infineon and Panasonic to establish dual sourcing for normally-off 600V GaN power devices

Panasonic develops 600V GaN power transistor with 'failure-free' stable switching operation

Tags: Panasonic GaN-on-Si power transistor Power electronics SiC

Visit: https://eu.industrial.panasonic.com/products/semiconductors/gan-power