News: Microelectronics
19 March 2024
EPC makes available 3-phase BLDC motor drive inverter reference design with 14–65V input range
Efficient Power Conversion Corp (EPC) of El Segundo, CA, USA — which makes enhancement-mode gallium nitride on silicon (eGaN) power field-effect transistors (FETs) and integrated circuits for power management applications — has announced the availability of the EPC9193, a 3-phase brushless DC (BLDC) motor drive inverter using the EPC2619 eGaN FET. The EPC9193 operates with a wide input DC voltage ranging from 14V and 65V and has two configurations — a standard unit and a high-current version:
- The EPC9193 standard reference design uses a single FET for each switch position and can deliver up to 30ARMS maximum output current;
- A high-current configuration version of the reference design, the EPC9193HC, uses two paralleled FETs per switch position with the ability to deliver up to 60Apk (42ARMS) maximum output current.
Both versions of the EPC9193 contain all the necessary critical function circuits to support a complete motor drive inverter including gate drivers, regulated auxiliary power rails for housekeeping supplies, voltage and temperature sense, accurate current sense, and protection functions. The EPC9193 boards measure just 130mm x 100mm (including connector).
Major benefits of a GaN-based motor drive are exhibited with these reference design boards, including lower distortion for lower acoustic noise, lower current ripple for reduced magnetic loss, and lower torque ripple for improved precision. The extremely small size of this inverter allows integration into the motor housing, resulting in the lowest EMI, highest density, and lowest weight.
EPC provides full demonstration kits, which include interface boards that connect the inverter board to the controller board development tool for fast prototyping that reduce design cycle times.
“GaN-based inverters enhance motor efficiency and lower costs, [versus] expensive silicon MOSFET inverters,” says CEO Alex Lidow. “This results in smaller, lighter, quieter motors with increased torque, range and precision.”
The EPC9193 reference design boards are priced at $900. The EPC2619 is priced at $1.69 each in 2.5Ku reels. Reference design boards and devices are available for immediate delivery from distributor Digi-Key Corp.
EPC launches 100V eGaN FET-based 3-phase BLDC motor drive inverter reference design
EPC makes available 3-phase BLDC motor drive inverter reference design board
