News: Microelectronics
25 April 2022
Navitas GaN IC drives vivo’s first 8”-screen foldable smartphone
GaN power integrated circuit firm Navitas Semiconductor of El Segundo, CA, USA and Dublin, Ireland says that its next-generation GaNFast power ICs with GaNSense technology have been selected to power vivo’s newly released, first folding-screen flagship ‘X Fold’ in-box 80W flash charger.
The vivo X Fold adopts a high-capacity 4600mAhr dual-battery solution charging 0-50% in just 17 minutes, and fully charged to 100% in only 37 minutes. The X Fold features multiple technological innovations, with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+, 120Hz refresh rate, 3D ultrasonic dual-screen fingerprint access, and the world's first 300,000-fold TUV reliability certification.
As the first in-box GaN charger for a foldable phone, the dual-output 80W USB-C charger supports vivo’s proprietary fast-charge protocol and industry-standard USB-PD, with simultaneous fast charging of two devices. The new 80W, folding-pin, in-box charger measures only 60mm x 41mm x 31mm (76cc), achieving a power density of over 1W/cc and a lightweight 125g. The full 80W power rating is shared over the two output ports to allow flexible, simultaneous charging of phones, tablets, audio and ultra-book laptops.
GaN runs 20x faster than traditional silicon and enables up to 3x the power or 3x faster charging with up to 40% energy savings in just half the size and weight. Navitas’ GaNFast power ICs integrate GaN power and drive plus sensing, protection and control circuits to deliver simple, small, fast and efficient power conversion performance for mobile, consumer, enterprise, eMobility and new energy markets. Over 145 Navitas patents are issued or pending. The latest generation of GaNFast ICs with GaNSense technology integrates real-time, accurate and fast sensing of system parameters, including current and temperature, and achieves patent-pending, loss-less current-sensing to deliver an additional 10% energy savings. GaNSense enables a ‘detect-to-protect’ time of only 30ns - 6x faster than discrete GaN power chips for increased system reliability.
For the X Fold’s 80W fast charger, Navitas’ NV6136A GaNFast power IC with GaNSense technology is used in a high-frequency, quasi-resonant (HFQR) topology for optimal system price and performance.
“Using Navitas GaN technology, this charger will bring consumers a breakthrough dual-port, faster and lighter charging experience,” says vivo’s product line general manager Hong Yi.
“As every GaN IC shipped saves 4kg of CO2, together we will achieve a faster, lighter, more efficient and more environmentally friendly charging future,” says Navitas’ CEO & co-founder Gene Sheridan.
Navitas’ GaN IC powering vivo’s iQOO 9 Pro smartphone
