19 January 2017

EPC development board shows ultra-fast transition capability of eGaN FETs over MOSFETs for LiDAR laser drivers

Efficient Power Conversion Corp (EPC) of El Segundo, CA, USA – which makes enhancement-mode gallium nitride on silicon (eGaN) power field-effect transistors (FETs) for power management applications – has announced the availability of the EPC9126, a 100V high-current pulsed laser diode driver evaluation board.

In a LiDAR system (used for detecting objects in autonomous vehicle applications) speed and accuracy of detection is critical. EPC says that, as demonstrated by the new board, the rapid transition capability of eGaN FETs provides power pulses to drive the laser up to ten times faster than an equivalent MOSFET, enhancing the overall performance of a LiDAR system.

Intended primarily to drive laser diodes, the EPC9126 development board features an EPC2016C ground-referenced eGaN FET driven by a Texas Instruments UCC27611 gate driver. The EPC2016C is a 100V maximum voltage device capable of current pulses up to 75A with total pulse widths as low as 5ns. The board can accommodate an EPC2001C 100V eGaN FET with a pulse current rating of up to 150A for users needing higher current capability.

The board includes multiple ultra-low inductance connection options for mounting laser diodes and can drive these via a discharging a capacitor (as shipped) or directly from a power bus. The board does not include a laser diode, which must be supplied by the user to evaluate specific applications. The printed circuit board is designed to minimize the power loop inductance while maintaining mounting flexibility for the laser diode. It includes multiple on-board passive probes for voltages and discharge capacitor current measurement, and comes equipped with SMA connections for input and sensing designed for 50Ω measurement systems. In addition, the user can enable an optional precision narrow pulse generator. Finally, the board can also be used for other applications requiring a ground-referenced eGaN FET, for example in Class E or similar circuits.

The EPC9126 100V high-current pulsed laser diode driver evaluation board is priced at $181.25 and is available from Digi-Key.

Tags: EPC E-mode GaN FETs

Visit: http://digikey.com/Suppliers/us/Efficient-Power-Conversion.page

Visit: www.epc-co.com/epc/Products/DemoBoards/EPC9126.aspx