News: Microelectronics
4 May 2021
GaN Systems showcasing GaN transistors and applications at PCIM
GaN Systems Inc of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (a fabless developer of gallium nitride-based power switching semiconductors for power conversion and control applications) says that, at the PCIM (Power Conversion and Intelligent Motion) Europe 2021 Digital Days exhibition and conference (3–7 May), CEO Jim Witham is joining other GaN experts in a panel session ‘WBG GaN: Serving Low to Line Voltage’ moderated by Bodo’s Power Systems on 5 May to illustrate how GaN power semiconductors have become the fundamental building block in power electronics.
Sessions and company innovations point to the advances and explosive increase in demand for GaN power semiconductors and adoption. This is demonstrated by GaN Systems’ announcements that its high-volume GaN transistors have fallen below US$1, shipment of its 20 millionth GaN transistor, and a 40x capacity expansion to be completed in 2021.
In the last year, GaN Systems has seen significant customer growth and innovative power system design applications, including:
- the debut of new 650V, 60A transistors for the automotive market designed to exceed automotive reliability standards including AEC-Q101 qualification and GaN Systems’ AutoQual+ testing and qualification;
- the industry’s smallest 100W dual USB-C intelligent PD GaN charger from GaN Systems, which achieves what is claimed to be outstanding efficiency, power density and circuit intelligence;
- a reference design for the highest-power-density, high-efficiency GaN-based 65W active clamp flyback (ACF) chargers in collaboration with Silanna Semiconductor; and
- a new 3kW full-bridge LLC resonant converter design to pair with its 3kW bridgeless totem-pole PFC reference design for data-center applications that exceeds the 80 PLUS Titanium standard for power supply units.
Attention has focused on data-center, automotive and industrial applications, including the following:
- Data centers: GaN power transistors, which have made their way into data-center power supplies, can reduce energy costs by more than $100m annually and reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 1 million metric tons for a large data-center operator, it is reckoned. In addition to data-center power supplies, significant savings are also attained in 5G power applications and crypto-mining power supplies.
- Automotive: GaN is being designed in a wide range of automotive applications including onboard battery chargers (OBC), DC/DC converters and traction inverters. GaN can save electric vehicle auto manufacturers $1.1bn in lower materials and battery costs and increase driving range (km) by 6%, it is reckoned, reducing driver range anxiety. BrightLoop incorporates GaN Systems’ transistors in its family of DC/DC converters (which is half the size and weight of the company’s first-generation product family) designed for the demanding environment of e-motorsport racing.
- Industrial: GaN is making waves in areas such as wireless charging of robots and drones, industrial power supplies, and motor drives. An example of how some of the world’s largest companies are innovating with GaN is Siemens, which released a GaN-based motor drive as part of its Simatic Micro-Drive product line, offering increased efficiency and faster motor response time, commenting that GaN has brought about a breakthrough in drive technology. The mini drive is only 2cm wide and requires no active cooling.
