Efficient Power Conversion (PC) recently announced the EPC2107 (100V) and EPC2108 (60V) eGaN® half-bridge power ICs, which integrate bootstrap FETs. These devices can eliminate gate drive for inductive reverse recovery losses as well as high-side clamp requirements. This marks the first time bootstrap FETs have been integrated into eGaN power circuits.

Specifically designed for resonant wireless power transfer applications, this product enables the rapid design of high-efficiency end-user systems and is expected to contribute to the proliferation of wireless power transfer applications. Additionally, since these GaN power ICs are provided in very small chip-scale packages, they help reduce overall system size. The new product family can also contribute to cost reduction by using a single GaN device instead of three FETs, thereby reducing the overall number of components.

Rezence™ wireless power standard

While various standards exist in the field of wireless power transfer, the A4WP standard Rezence™ offers exceptional functionality and performance to end consumers. For example, Rezence eliminates spatial constraints during charging because devices do not require precise placement. Furthermore, it provides an unprecedentedly wide charging range, allowing consumers to charge their devices conveniently. In addition, this standard enables the simultaneous charging of multiple devices with different power requirements. Another key feature of the Regen-enabled wireless power system is that it can charge devices by applying it to keys, coins, or everyday household tools, making it ideal for automotive, retail, and home applications.

In other words, Regen has the exceptional flexibility and capabilities to expand wireless charging, and is expected to show rapid growth, exceeding $15.6 billion by 2020.

EPC Gallium Nitride devices play a significant role in the wireless charging market, having launched the first eGaN FET for wireless power transfer in 2012. In addition to designing A4WP Regens-compatible power products, EPC has published the 'Wireless Power Handbook' to address challenges in wireless power system design, such as multi-node operation and EMI compliance.

EPC New Product and Key Advantages

By integrating two eGaN power FETs into a single power IC, interconnect inductance and the insertion space required on the PCB can be eliminated. By utilizing such a single integrated power component, both efficiency (especially at high frequencies) and power density can be increased, and the assembly cost of the final product implemented by wireless power system designers can be reduced.

These devices are provided in an ultra-small chip-scale package of 1.35 mm x 1.35 mm to reduce size, and have improved thermal performance and switching speed to increase power density.

Wireless Power Demo System

In addition to support for the EPC2107 and EPC2108 ICs, the EPC also comes with a complete wireless power transfer demo system and development boards for evaluating two new eGaN power ICs.

The A4WP Class 3 (EPC9113) or A4WP Class 2 (EPC9114) wireless power demo system has three components.

• ZVS Class-D source (or amplifier) board

o Regens Class 2: EPC9510 – Includes EPC9114 kit and 100V EPC2107 features

o Regens Class 3: EPC9509 – Includes EPC9113 kit and 60V EPC2108 features

• Class 2/3 Regency Compatible Source (or Transmitter) Coil

• Includes Category 3 Regence compatible device (or receiver) board, coil

The EPC9113 wireless power demo kit complies with A4WP Class 3 and can provide up to 16W to a DC load while operating at 6.78MHz (modifiable to operate at 13.56MHz), and the EPC9114 wireless power demo kit complies with A4WP Class 2 at 10W.The purpose of this demo kit is to simplify the evaluation process by using eGaN FETs for high-efficiency wireless power transmission. Both kits utilize the high-frequency switching performance of EPC Gallium Nitride transistors to implement high-efficiency wireless power systems.

In addition, for customers with their own coil designs, source (or amplifier) boards are also sold separately, such as the EPC9509 (with 60V EPC2108) and the EPC9510 (with 100V EPC2107).

All products are currently available for purchase on the Digi-Key website: http://www.digikey.com/Suppliers/us/Efficient-Power-Conversion.page?lang=en