GaN Solutions for Consumer Electronics Applications

As a semiconductor material, people focus on GaN (gallium nitride) started in the 1990s for LED light applications. However, after we saw GaN chargers achieve higher efficiency in a smaller volume and better heat dissipation performance, the explosion of GaN in consumer electronics was unstoppable.

In 2020, 21Dianyuan joined hands with senior experts from home and abroad and international manufacturers to create the "Asia Power Technology Development Forum," which provides a high-quality and efficient platform for domestic power engineers to improve technology, expand the network, discuss business, and empower the industry. Guo Yonghui said GaN is driving the global power revolution, showing great potential in the fields of fast chargers, IoT, smart homes, smart buildings (HBA), home appliances and industrial equipment, etc. PI's PowiGaN can make the power conversion smaller and can help achieve the following:

l   Flyback converters with efficiencies of up to 95%

l   Smaller, lighter power supplies

l   GaN switches that easily withstand worldwide input surges and voltage dips

l   Integration is the key to GaN commercialization

As the technology becomes more widely available, products using GaN technology are significantly smaller in size and more efficient, which is the appeal of GaN. Guo Yonghui believes that integration is the key to achieving some of this and making GaN commercially available. During the seminar, he used the InnoSwitch3-Pro as an example to illustrate this. The InnoSwitch3-Pro switching power IC matches PowiGaN with an integrated digitally controlled power conversion to provide consistent high efficiency at all loads, with efficiencies up to 94%.

InnoSwitch3-Pro Switching Power Supply IC

InnoSwitch3-Pro switching power ICs integrate drivers tailored for specific PowiGaN devices to optimize switching speed, thereby reducing EMI, improving efficiency, and eliminating oscillation. In addition, the InnoSwitch3-Pro switching power ICs feature primary and secondary controllers + an I2C interface that ensures secure isolation via FluxLink technology. The I2C interface on the InnoSwitch3-Pro switching power IC is configurable to adjust the output voltage and current, CV, CC, and CP characteristics, as well as fault trigger point and response. Therefore, the I2C interface on the InnoSwitch3-Pro switching power IC can adjust the output to meet the load requirements and communicate with the load device via a USB cable. Yonghui Guo emphasizes that the InnoSwitch3-Pro switching power IC enables seamless scaling of Si and PowiGaN switches.

GaN Enables Performance Beyond Power Switches

For charger and adapter applications, the switching frequency determines the size of the transformer, and the input voltage determines the size of the high-capacity capacitor. In the process of reducing device size, high-voltage, high-capacity electrolytic capacitors become a headache. To support high input voltages, capacitor manufacturers must dramatically increase the size of high-capacity capacitors!

By using PI's PowiGaN technology, the MinE-CAP switch can save space without affecting output ripple, efficiency, or the need to redesign the transformer. It dramatically reduces the number of high-voltage storage elements and insulates low-voltage capacitors from dramatic fluctuations in grid voltage, so it also provides enhanced durability for areas with a wide range of input voltages. MinE-CAP switches add low-voltage capacitors at low input voltages and remove low-voltage capacitors when the input voltage is increased, making it possible to use one 400V39μF at 220VAC input and one 160V100μF capacitor automatically connected in parallel at 110VAC input to meet output requirements.

MinE-CAP Switch

Size: 13 x 25mm, about 1/3 of 400V volume

Ideal partner: InnoSwitch3/Pro and MinE-CAP

InnoSwitch3/Pro and MinE-CAP are an ideal pair. Thanks to the high performance and high integration of InnoSwitch3-Pro and MinE-CAP, DER626 can achieve a wide range of input and 65W output in a size of 85 x 54 x 15mm.