News: Microelectronics
5 November 2024
Power Integrations launches 1700V GaN switcher IC
Power Integrations Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (which provides high-voltage integrated circuits for energy-efficient power conversion) has added to its InnoMux-2 family of single-stage, independently regulated multi-output offline power supply ICs by introduced a new device featuring what is claimed to be the first 1700V gallium nitride (GaN) switch, fabricated using the company’s proprietary PowiGaN technology. The 1700V rating is said to further advances the state-of-the-art for GaN power devices, previously set by Power Integrations’ own 900V and 1250V devices, both launched in 2023.
The 1700V InnoMux-2 IC easily supports 1000VDC nominal input voltage in a flyback configuration and achieves over 90% efficiency in applications requiring one, two or three supply voltages. Each output is regulated within one percent accuracy, eliminating post-regulators and further improving system efficiency by approximately 10%. The new device replaces expensive silicon carbide (SiC) transistors in power supply applications such as automotive chargers, solar inverters, three-phase meters and a wide variety of industrial power systems.
“Our rapid pace of GaN development has delivered three world-first voltage ratings in a span of less than two years: 900V, 1250V and now 1700V,” says Radu Barsan, VP of technology. “Our new InnoMux-2 ICs combine 1700V GaN and three other recent innovations: independent, accurate, multi-output regulation; FluxLink, our secondary-side regulation (SSR) digital isolation communications technology; and zero voltage switching (ZVS) without an active-clamp, which all but eliminates switching losses,” he adds.
“1700V rating is substantially higher than any other commercially available GaN HEMT that we are aware of,” comments Ezgi Dogmus, activity manager, compound semiconductors at market analyst firm Yole Group. “The power GaN device market is poised to reach $2bn by decade's end, expanding across various application spaces with potentially attractive cost advantages over SiC [according to Yole Intelligence’s ‘Power GaN report’].”
Pricing for InnoMux-2 1700V ICs starts at $4.90 for 10,000-unit quantities. A reference design RDR-1053, which describes a 60W dual-output (5V and 24V) power supply, can be downloaded from the Power Integrations website at no cost.
Power Integrations to acquire vertical GaN power device firm Odyssey
