News: Microelectronics
20 June 2022
GaN Systems Cup 2022 design competition underway
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 the eighth annual ‘GaN Systems Cup’ China Power Supply Society (CPSS) design competition is now underway — with 50 teams from China’s top universities selected to enter the preliminary round of competition. This year’s competition focuses on sparking innovation in high-efficiency and high-power-density single-stage photovoltaic inverters using GaN Systems’ power transistors.
“The young engineers participating in the GaN Systems Cup are helping define the future of the power electronics industry, and their focus on next-generation GaN-powered designs will help drive innovation in energy conservation, emission reduction, and new energy utilization,” says GaN Systems’ CEO Jim Witham.
This year’s teams are challenged to create a GaN-based 400V photovoltaic power supply design that uses GaN Systems’ semiconductors to meet the following evaluation criteria:
- a low-cost design with 360–400VDC input voltage, 220VAC output voltage, and total harmonic distortion (THD) of <3% @400VA output.
- greater than 93% efficiency, 10W/in3 power density, and be able to run continuously at 25ºC for 30 minutes.
Hosted by the China Power Supply Society (CPSS) and Hefei University of Technology, more than 160 teachers, students and power electronics practitioners attended the virtual launch ceremony. Professors Ma Mingyao and Zhao Jiwen of the Hefei University of Technology and Dr Zhang Jinfa, vice chairman of the China Power Supply Society and chairman of the Science Popularization Committee, presided over the ceremony. Paul Wiener, VP of marketing at GaN Systems, discussed the importance of higher-performing power electronics — and the role of GaN technology in driving critical improvements.
Finalists will be announced on 25 August, and winners will be recognized during an on-site awards ceremony in November during the CPSS Annual Conference. Designs will be judged on design criteria, functionality, ingenuity and presentation quality. More than 100 colleges and universities have participated in this annual competition since its launch in 2015.
The GaN Systems Cup receives support from GaN Systems, Ningbo Xici Electronic Technology Co Ltd, Zhuhai Taiwei Electronics Co Ltd, Edex Electronics Co Ltd, and Minye Science and Technology Information (Shanghai) Co Ltd.
Winners announced for GaN Systems Cup 2021 China Power Supply Society design competition
GaN Systems Cup winners announced at China Power Supply Society awards ceremony
