The combination of the Renesas two-phase synchronous GaN boost controller with ultra-efficient eGaN FETs from EPC (Efficient Power Conversion) enables high power density and low-cost DC-DC conversion. Regulated DC-DC boost converters are widely used in many applications, including automotive, converting a nominal 12V to a 48V distribution bus among other output voltages. The main trend has been towards higher power density.
According to the California-based company, eGaN FETs provide the fast switching, high efficiency and small size that can meet the stringent power density requirements of leading-edge modern applications. EPC2218 is the smallest and highest efficiency 100 V FET in the market. The ISL81807 is the industry’s first 80 V dual-output/two-phase (single output) synchronous buck controller with integrated GaN driver, supporting frequencies up to 2 MHz. The ISL81807 uses current mode control and generates two independent outputs or one output with two interleaved phases. It supports current sharing, synchronization for paralleling more controllers/more phases, enhanced light load efficiency and low shutdown current. ISL81807 directly drives EPC GaN FETs, ensuring easy design, low component count and solution cost.
"The Renesas controller IC makes using GaN even easier. We are delighted to work with Renesas to combine the benefits of their advanced controllers with the performance of GaN to provide customers with a low component count solution that increases efficiency, increases power density, and reduces system cost," comments Alex Lidow, CEO of EPC.
"The Renesas ISL81807 is designed to fully exploit the high performance of GaN FETs for high power density solutions," says Andrew Cowell, Vice President of the Mobility, Industrial and Infrastructure Power Division at Renesas. "ISL81807 reduces BOM cost for GaN solutions because it does not require an MCU, current sense op amp, external driver or bias power. It is also fully protected and integrates the GaN drivers. With the ISL81807, designing with GaN FETs is as simple as designing with silicon-based FETs."
The EPC9166 demonstration board from EPC is priced at $300.00 each and is available for immediate delivery from Digi-Key.
More information on the ISL81807 including samples, documentation and evaluation tools is available from Renesas at renesas.com/isl81807.
EPC offers enhancement mode gallium nitride (eGaN) based power management. eGaN FETs and integrated circuits provide performance many times greater than the best silicon power MOSFETs in applications such as DC-DC converters, remote sensing technology (lidar), motor drives for eMobility, robotics, and drones, and low-cost satellites.
www.epc-co.com
