Fast GaN FET Driver Unveiled Utilizing UltraCMOS Technology

Peregrine Semiconductor Corp., founder of RF SOI (silicon on insulator) and pioneer of advanced RF solutions, introduces the word’s fastest gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistor (FET) driver, the UltraCMOS® PE29100. Built on Peregrine’s UltraCMOS technology, this new GaN driver empowers design engineers to extract the full performance and speed advantages from GaN transistors. Designed to drive the gates of a high-side and a low-side GaN FET in a switching configuration, the PE29100 delivers the industry’s fastest switching speeds, shortest propagation delays and lowest rise and fall times to AC-DC converters, DC-DC converters, class D audio amplifiers and wireless charging applications.

GaN-based FETs are disrupting the power conversion market and are displacing silicon-based metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). Compared to MOSFETs, GaN FETs operate much faster and have higher switching speeds in the smallest possible volume. The promise of GaN is that it can dramatically reduce the size and weight of any power supply. To reach their performance potential, these high-performance GaN transistors need an optimized gate driver. This FET driver must charge and discharge gate capacitance as fast as possible, and it must have very low propagation delay to allow fast signals. It also must avoid “shoot through” by not turning on high-side and low-side FETs at the same time. The PE29100 is designed specifically for this purpose.

“Our enhancement-mode GaN (eGaN®) transistors deliver a whole new spectrum of performance compared to MOSFETs,” says Alex Lidow, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder at EPC. “GaN FET drivers, like Peregrine’s UltraCMOS PE29100, enable design engineers to unlock the true potential of eGaN FET technology. The availability of the PE29100 further enhances our ability to deliver the best possible solution into the power conversion market where size, efficiency and simple design are critical.”

Peregrine’s UltraCMOS technology platform is the driving force behind the PE29100’s industry- leading speed. The technology enables integrated circuits to operate at much faster speeds than conventional CMOS technologies. It empowers Peregrine to manufacture a GaN FET driver with the industry’s shortest propagation delays, the lowest rise and fall times and the fastest switching speeds. This speed advantage results in significantly smaller power converters, which benefits the design engineer with increased power density.

“Design engineers are increasingly using GaN transistors for applications where higher switching frequency and high power is required,” says Mark Moffat, director of Peregrine’s power management product line. “However, the currently available gate drivers and controllers do not support the full potential of GaN. With the enabling power of UltraCMOS technology, the PE29100 achieves the industry’s fastest switching speeds at frequencies higher than competing products. By enabling GaN to reach its performance potential, UltraCMOS technology is enabling power innovation.” 

Manufactured on a truly insulating substrate, UltraCMOS technology has no bulk or well junctions, and therefore has low parasitics. UltraCMOS technology also has low on-resistance for improved efficiency and low off-capacitance at higher operating frequency. 

 

Features, Packaging, Price and Availability 

The UltraCMOS PE29100 is a half-bridge GaN FET driver with internal dead-time control. The high-speed driver operates up to 33 MHz and handles voltages up to 80V. It delivers a short propagation delay of 8 ns. It has a rise time of 2.5 ns and fall time of 1.8 ns when driving a 1000 pF load and 1 ns rise and fall times with 100 pF load. The PE29100 has a one-pin, single-phase input mode and has an output source current of 2A and an output sink current of 4A. 

Volume-production parts, samples and evaluation kits are available now. Offered as a 2 x 1.6 mm flip-chip die, the PE29100 is $1.80 each for 1k-quantity orders.

 

About Peregrine Semiconductor

pSemi Corporation builds upon Peregrine Semiconductor’s 30-year legacy of technology advancements and top-ranked intellectual property (IP) portfolio but adds a new mission—to enhance Murata’s world-class capabilities with high-performance semiconductors. We are proud to be a part of the over 80,000 Murata employees who are shaping the future of electronics.

At pSemi, we drive profitable growth through differentiated semiconductor technology leadership in fast-growing markets. We enable Murata’s success in semiconductors and leverage its leading manufacturing capabilities and brand strength to provide best-in-class solutions to our customers. Our intelligent and efficient semiconductors enable advanced modules for smartphones, base stations, personal computers, electric vehicles, data centers, IoT devices and healthcare.