New Industry Products

EPC Intros Plug-and-Play 97% Efficient Half-Bridge Converter DrGaNPLUS EVB

May 20, 2014 by Jeff Shepard

Providing an easy-to-use way for power systems designers to evaluate the exceptional performance of gallium nitride transistors, Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) introduces DrGaNPLUS evaluation boards (EVBs). These boards are proof-of-concept designs that integrate all necessary components of a half-bridge circuit into a single, extremely small PCB-based module that can be readily mounted to demonstrate the excellent performance of a GaN transistor power conversion solution. The first DrGaNPLUS board, the EPC9202, a 100-V, 10-A half-bridge power converter is a "plug and play" evaluation board that designers can use to quickly and easily evaluate the high performance gained with gallium nitride power transistors. As an example, this board reaches 97% peak efficiency with Vin = 48V and Vout = 12V, a common power conversion for telecom applications.

The EPC9202 can be driven by a single PWM input and features two EPC2001 eGaN FETs, the Texas Instrument’s LM5113 driver, and high frequency input capacitors. This DrGaNPLUS board is small, only a little over 9 mm on a side, and can mount directly onto a printed circuit board. It has been designed with an optimal layout to minimize the debilitating effects of common source and high frequency power commutation loop inductances.

“We are excited to make available the EPC9202 eGaN FET evaluation board, the first board in our DrGaNPLUS series. In addition to improved performance, lower cost and reliability, ease-of-use is a critical factor in the adoption of a new technology. With the introduction of DrGaNPLUS evaluation boards, power conversion systems design engineers now have a quick and easy way of assessing the exceptional benefits of incorporating gallium nitride transistors into their power systems circuits,” noted Alex Lidow, CEO and co-founder of EPC.

A Quick Start Guide, containing set up procedures, circuit diagram, performance curves, and a bill of material is included with the EPC9202 demo board for reference and ease of use is provided on-line. EPC9202 demo boards are priced at $45.00 each