News: Microelectronics
16 March 2022
EPC releases lowest on-resistance rad-hard transistor available for demanding space applications
Efficient Power Conversion Corp (EPC) of El Segundo, CA, USA has launched the EPC7019, a 40V, 1.5mΩ, 530APulsed radiation-hardened enhancement-mode gallium nitride on silicon (eGaN) power field-effect transistors (FETs) in a small 13.9mm2 footprint. The EPC7019 has a total dose rating greater than 1Mrad and SEE (single event effect) immunity for LET (linear energy transfer) of 85MeV/(mg/cm2). The devices are offered in a chip-scale package, the same as the commercial eGaN FET and IC family. Packaged versions will be available from EPC Space LLC of Haverhill, MA, USA.
The device has a figure of merit (RDS(on) x QG) that is 20 times superior to alternative rad-hard silicon solutions and the size is 20 times smaller, it is reckoned. With higher breakdown strength, lower gate charge, lower switching losses, better thermal conductivity and lower on-resistance, power devices based on GaN significantly outperform silicon-based devices and enable higher switching frequencies, resulting in higher power densities, higher efficiencies, and more compact and lighter-weight circuitry for critical space-borne missions. Finally, GaN devices support higher total radiation level and SEE LET levels than silicon solutions.
Applications benefiting from the performance and fast deployment of the EPC7019 include power supplies for satellites and mission equipment and motor drives for robotics and instrumentation.
“EPC’s GaN technology enables a new generation of power conversion and motor drives in space operating at higher frequencies, higher efficiencies and greater power densities than ever achievable before,” says CEO & co-founder Alex Lidow. “The EPC7019 offers designers a solution with a figure of merit that is 20 times better than best-in-class silicon rad-hard devices. This is the lowest on-resistance for a rad-hard transistor on the market today,” he claims. “And, the EPC7019 is significantly smaller and lower cost.”
The EPC7019 is available for engineering sampling and will be fully qualified for volume shipments in October.
EPC Space launches cost-effective 60V rad-hard GaN power device
