News: Microelectronics
16 February 2022
Digi-Key to distribute EPC Space’s rad-hard GaN power devices for high-rel and aerospace applications
EPC Space LLC of Haverhill, MA, USA says that Digi-Key Electronics will be a global distributor for its line of radiation-hardened (rad-hard) gallium nitride-on-silicon (GaN-on-Si) transistors and ICs, packaged, tested and qualified for satellite and high-reliability applications.
Spanning a range of 40V to 300V, EPC Space offers a family of rad-hard enhancement-mode power transistors that are said to demonstrate significant performance advantages over competing silicon-based rad-hard power MOSFETs. The firm says that its technology produces GaN devices that are smaller, have lower resistance, and have many times superior switching performance compared with silicon solutions.
Digi-Key will also distribute EPC Space’s family of rad-hard enhancement-mode GaN drivers and power stages. Rad-hard GaN drivers are optimized to drive rad-hard GaN transistors in critical space-borne systems. Rad-hard power stages integrate a high-speed gate drive circuit with power switches to provide a monolithic complete power stage in a tiny footprint for smaller, lower-weight systems.
The drivers and power stages product line includes ultra-fast, low-side eGaN drivers, ultra-fast, dual low-side eGaN drivers, and half-bridge drivers with integrated eGaN power switches.
Critical space-borne applications that benefit from the performance improvements that the devices offer include power supplies for satellites and mission equipment, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) for robotics and autonomous navigation and rendezvous docking, motor drives for robotics and instrumentation, and ion thrusters for satellite orientation and positioning as well as interplanetary propulsion of low-mass robotic vehicles.
“The addition of EPC Space’s rad-hard GaN-based power management products completes the entire EPC’s product portfolio through Digi-Key and brings intriguing next-generation breakthrough benefits to existing silicon-based solutions,” comments David Stein, VP of global supplier management for Digi-Key.
“Digi-Key has the fastest global logistics and the most efficient supply chain to service customers from early engineering through volume production,” comments EPC Space’s CEO Bel Lazar. “Digi-Key’s world-class distribution capabilities will translate into fast and easy service to our global customers who want to access the entire line of EPC’s GaN power device products to replace their less-efficient, more costly silicon solutions.”
EPC Space launches rad-hard eGaN power transistor die on ceramic adaptors
