S17 - High-Power GaN Devices and Applications

GaN devices enable smaller, lighter, and more efficient power systems. GaN has not only entered low-power applications, such as cellphone and laptop chargers, but is also being used and evaluated for several other, high-power applications, including power supplies, data centers, energy harvesting, on-board chargers, and motor drives. In this seminar, we describe the latest high-power GaN technologies and discuss the opportunities for high-power applications. The first part focuses on devices: we compare e-mode and cascode architectures and discuss strategies to achieve high current (up to 150 A for a single chip) and high voltage rating (up to 1200 V). We analyze switching transients and discuss good practices to drive GaN devices fast and reliably. You will learn about GaN reliability, including qualification standards, lifetime tests, and short-circuit capability. The second part focuses on applications: we review high-power hard-switching and soft-switching topologies and provide design recommendations to make the most out of high-power GaN devices. The seminar concludes with a discussion on market challenges and opportunities for GaN adoption in high-power applications.