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Manufacturers of cutting-edge audio equipment constantly seek to enhance sound quality while also meeting the growing demand for compact, lightweight, more integrated, and energy-efficient designs. At the same time, they must ensure seamless connectivity, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendly functionality, making audio product development more complex than ever.
To overcome these challenges, SounDigital has integrated CoolGaN™ transistors from Infineon Technologies AG into its new 1500 W Class D amplifier, featuring an 800 kHz switching frequency and five channels. Infineon’s advanced GaN technology has improved the energy efficiency of the amplifier by five percent and reduced energy loss by 60 percent.
“We are excited to enhance the performance of our audio amplifiers using Infineon’s GaN power semiconductors, enabling us to inspire people and provide entertainment by amplifying music around the world,” said Juliano Anflor, CEO of SounDigital. “GaN transistors significantly enhances our overall system performance with minimized system cost and increased ease of use.”
“GaN technology is transforming the audio amplifier industry, providing unparalleled efficiency and performance,” said Johannes Schoiswohl, Head of the GaN Business Line at Infineon. “Infineon’s leading GaN solutions deliver superior sound quality, higher power density, and reduced energy consumption, enabling SounDigital’s audio systems to reach new levels of fidelity and performance.”
For its 1500 W Class D amplifier, SounDigital selected Infineon’s 100 V normally-off E-mode transistors: IGC033S101 in a PQFN-3×5 package and IGB110S101 in a PQFN-3×3 package. With their low on-resistance, the transistors are ideal for demanding high-current applications, enabling significant improvements in both sound quality and efficiency of SounDigital’s amplifier.
The GaN-based amplifier also delivers high performance while reducing power dissipation by 75 W, allowing for a 50 percent smaller heat sink. Additionally, the overall system size has been reduced by 40 percent without compromising performance. The audio quality has been further improved by the CoolGaN transistors, with total harmonic distortion (THD) reduced by 70 percent, enabling a more precise and detailed sound experience. At the same time, the idle current has been reduced by 40 percent, significantly improving energy efficiency.
Original – Infineon Technologies
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Texas Instruments (TI) announced a new family of radiation-hardened and radiation-tolerant half-bridge gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistor (FET) gate drivers. This family of gate drivers includes the industry’s first space-grade GaN FET driver that supports up to 200V operation.
The devices are available in pin-to-pin compatible ceramic and plastic packaging options and support three voltage levels. TI’s advancements in space-grade power products enable engineers to design satellite power systems for all types of space missions using just one chip supplier.
Satellite systems are growing increasingly complex to meet the demand for more on-orbit processing and data transmission, higher-resolution imaging, and more precise sensing. To improve mission capabilities, engineers strive to maximize electrical power system efficiency. TI’s new gate drivers are designed to accurately drive GaN FETs with fast rise and fall times, improving power-supply size and density. This allows a satellite to more effectively use the power generated by its solar cells to perform mission functions.
“Satellites perform critical missions, from providing global internet coverage to monitoring climate and shipping activity, enabling humans to better understand and navigate the world,” said Javier Valle, product line manager, Space Power Products at TI. “Our new portfolio enables satellites in low, medium and geosynchronous earth orbits to operate in the harsh environment of space for an extended period of time, all while maintaining high levels of power efficiency.”
For more information, read the technical article, “How you can optimize SWaP for next-generation satellites with electronic power systems.”
Optimizing size, weight and power (SWaP) using GaN technology can:
- Improve electrical system performance.
- Extend mission lifetimes.
- Reduce satellite mass and volume.
- Minimize thermal management overload.
Designers can use the family for applications spanning the entire electrical power system.
- The 200V GaN FET gate driver is suitable for propulsion systems and input power conversion in solar panels.
- The 60V and 22V versions are intended for power distribution and conversion across the satellite.
TI’s family of space-grade GaN FET gate drivers offers different space-qualified packaging options for the three voltage levels, including:
- Radiation-hardened; Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) Class P and QML Class V in plastic and ceramic packages, respectively.
- Radiation-tolerant Space Enhanced Plastic (SEP) products.
John Dorosa, a TI systems engineer, will present “How to easily convert a hard-switched full bridge to a zero-voltage-switched full bridge” on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 9:20 a.m. Eastern time at the Applied Power Electronics Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. This industry session will feature TI’s TPS7H6003-SP gate driver.
Production quantities of the TPS7H6003-SP, TPS7H6013-SP, TPS7H6023-SP and TPS7H6005-SEP are available now on TI.com. Preproduction quantities of the TPS7H6015-SEP and TPS7H6025-SEP are also available, with the TPS7H6005-SP, TPS7H6015-SP and TPS7H6025-SP available for purchase by June 2025. Additionally, development resources include evaluation modules for all nine devices, as well as reference designs and simulation models.
Original – Texas Instruments
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SemiQ Inc has announced a family of three 1200V SiC full-bridge modules, each integrating two of the company’s rugged high-speed switching SiC MOSFETs with reliable body diode. The modules have been developed to simplify the development of photovoltaic inverters, energy storage, battery charging and other high-frequency DC applications.
Available in 18, 38 and 77mΩ (RDSon) variants, the modules have been tested at voltages exceeding 1350V and deliver a continuous drain current of up to 102A, a pulsed drain current of up to 250A and a power dissipation of up to 333W.
Operational with a junction temperature of up to 175oC, the rugged B2 modules have exceptionally low switching losses (EON 0.13mJ, EOFF 0.04mJ at 25oC – 77mΩ module), low zero-gate voltage drain/gate source leakage (0.1µA/1nA – all modules) and low junction to case thermal resistance (0.4oC per watt – 18mΩ module).
“By integrating high-speed SiC MOSFETs with exceptional performance and reliability, our new QSiC 1200V family of full-bridge modules sets a new standard for power density and efficiency in demanding DC applications. This family of modules simplifies system design, and enables faster time-to-market for next-generation solar, storage, and charging solutions,” said Seok Joo Jang, Director of Module Engineering at SemiQ.
Available immediately, the modules can be mounted directly to a heat sink, are housed in a 62.8 x 33.8 x 15.0mm package (including mounting plates) with press fit terminal connections and split DC negative terminals.
Original – SemiQ
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Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology plays a crucial role in enabling power electronics to reach the highest levels of performance. However, GaN suppliers have thus far taken different approaches to package types and sizes, leading to fragmentation and lack of multiple footprint-compatible sources for customers.
Infineon Technologies AG addresses this challenge by announcing the high-performance gallium nitride CoolGaN™ G3 Transistor 100 V in RQFN 5×6 package (IGD015S10S1) and 80 V in RQFN 3.3×3.3 package (IGE033S08S1).
“The new devices are compatible with industry-standard silicon MOSFET packages, meeting customer demands for a standardized footprint, easier handling and faster-time-to-market,” said, Dr. Antoine Jalabert, Product Line Head for mid-voltage GaN at Infineon.
The CoolGaN G3 100 V Transistor devices will be available in a 5×6 RQFN package with a typical on-resistance of 1.1 mΩ. Additionally, the 80 V transistor in a 3.3×3.3 RQFN package has a typical resistance of 2.3 mΩ. These transistors offer a footprint that, for the first time, allows for easy multi-sourcing strategies and complementary layouts to Silicon-based designs. The new packages in combination with GaN offer a low-resistance connection and low parasitics, enabling high performance transistor output in a familiar footprint.
Moreover, this chip and package combination allows for high level of robustness in terms of thermal cycling, in addition to improved thermal conductivity, as heat is better distributed and dissipated due to the larger exposed surface area and higher copper density.
Samples of the GaN transistors IGE033S08S1 and IGD015S10S1 in RQFN packages will be available in April 2025.
Original – Infineon Technologies
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Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD) has successfully closed a $32 million Series C funding round. The investment was led by a strategic investor with participation from British Patient Capital and supported by existing investors Parkwalk, BGF, Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), Foresight Group, and IQ Capital.
Transforming Power Electronics with GaN
Gallium nitride-based devices represent a breakthrough in power electronics, offering faster switching speeds, lower energy consumption, and more compact designs than traditional silicon-based solutions. CGD’s proprietary monolithic ICeGaN® technology, which simplifies the implementation of GaN into existing and progressive designs, delivers efficiency levels exceeding 99%, enabling energy savings of up to 50% in a wide range of high-power applications including electric vehicles and data centre power supplies. These innovations have the potential to save millions of tons of CO2 emissions annually, accelerating the global transition to more sustainable energy systems due to the inherent ease-of-use that ICeGaN® technology provides to its customers.Dr. Giorgia Longobardi, CEO and Founder of CGD, said: “This funding round marks a pivotal moment for CGD. It validates our technology and vision to revolutionize the power electronics industry with our efficient GaN solutions and make sustainable power electronics possible. We’re now poised to accelerate our growth and make a significant impact in reducing energy consumption across multiple sectors. We look forward to collaborating with our strategic investor to penetrate the automotive market”.
Market Opportunity and Proven Success
The global GaN power device market is projected to grow at a remarkable CAGR of 41%, reaching $2 billion by 20291. At the same time, ICeGaN® is being seen as a viable alternative to existing solutions using Silicon Carbide (SiC), combining high energy-efficiency, miniaturization, and monolithically integrated smart functionalities. This will enable Cambridge GaN Devices to have access to a high power market estimated to be in excess of $10 billion by 20291. With its cutting-edge technology and market leadership position, CGD is well positioned to capitalize on this rapid market expansion. Having successfully secured industry-leading customers in their pipeline, CGD has consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver reliable and impactful solutions, enabling innovation in the sector.Henryk Dabrowski, SVP of Sales at CGD, said: “I’m thrilled to see this funding helping to deliver on customer deals we’ve already closed for CGD’s latest-generation P2 products. This investment will significantly boost our ability to meet the growing demand for our reliable and easy-to-use GaN solutions.”
Global Expansion and Vision for the Future
With a global team of experts, decades of research, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of GaN technology, CGD continues to deliver solutions that enhance everyday electronics. As the world advances toward electrification and sustainability, CGD’s leadership in GaN technology offers a pathway to reduce energy consumption, lower costs, and mitigate environmental impact. By enabling efficient, compact, and high-performance power devices, CGD is setting a new standard for sustainable power electronics.The funding will enable the company to expand its operations in Cambridge, North America, Taiwan and Europe, and deliver CGD’s unique value proposition to its growing customer base. This significant investment will fuel CGD’s growth strategy, focusing on the continued delivery of highly efficient GaN products to high-power industrial, data centre, and automotive markets. John Pearson, Chief Investment Officer at Parkwalk Advisors, said: “CGD is at the forefront of technology that can reduce the energy demands of booming industries, like Artificial Intelligence and Electric Mobility. It has enormous global potential and widespread applications which will see CGD continue to innovate and grow. We are proud to have backed CGD since 2019 and are excited to be working with an exceptional team and cohort of other investors to accelerate its global expansion.”
George Mills, Director – Deeptech, Direct & Co-Investments, British Patient Capital, said: “Following years of research, Cambridge GaN Devices have proven the impact of their semiconductor technology. Their GaN devices consume less energy than their silicon-based counterparts, which both reduces costs and has a positive environmental impact. It’s valuable technology that now needs long-term capital to scale.”
Original – Cambridge GaN Devices
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Infineon Technologies AG has made significant progress on its 200 mm silicon carbide (SiC) roadmap. The company will already release the first products based on the advanced 200 mm SiC technology to customers in Q1 2025. The products, manufactured in Villach, Austria, provide first-class SiC power technology for high-voltage applications, including renewable energies, trains, and electric vehicles. Additionally, the transition of Infineon’s manufacturing site in Kulim, Malaysia, from 150-millimeter wafers to the larger and more efficient 200-millimeter diameter wafers is fully on track. The newly built Module 3 is poised to commence high-volume production aligned with market demand.
“The implementation of our SiC production is progressing as planned and we are proud of the first product releases to customers,” said Dr. Rutger Wijburg, Chief Operations Officer of Infineon. “By ramping up SiC production in Villach and Kulim in phases, we are improving cost-efficiency and continuing to ensure product quality. At the same time, we are making sure our manufacturing capacities can meet the demand for SiC-based power semiconductors.”
SiC semiconductors have revolutionized high-power applications by switching electricity even more efficiently, demonstrating high reliability and robustness under extreme conditions, and by making even smaller designs possible. Infineon’s SiC products let customers develop energy-efficient solutions for electric vehicles, fast charging stations and trains as well as renewable energy systems and AI data centers.
The release to customers of the first SiC products based on the 200-millimeter wafer technology marks a substantial step forward in Infineon’s SiC roadmap, with a strong focus on providing customers with a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance power semiconductors that promote green energy and contribute to CO 2 reduction.
As “Infineon One Virtual Fab” for highly innovative wide-bandgap (WBG) technologies, Infineon’s production sites in Villach and Kulim share technologies and processes which allow for fast ramping and smooth and highly efficient operations in SiC and gallium nitride (GaN) manufacturing. The 200-millimeter SiC manufacturing activities now add to Infineon’s strong track record of delivering industry-leading semiconductor technology and power system solutions and strengthen the company’s technology leadership across the entire spectrum of power semiconductors, in silicon as well as in SiC and GaN.
Original – Infineon Technologies
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The electronics industry is experiencing a significant shift towards more compact and powerful systems. To support this trend and further drive innovation at the system level, Infineon Technologies AG is expanding its portfolio of discrete CoolSiC™ MOSFETs 650 V with two new product families housed in Q-DPAK and TOLL packages.
These diverse product families, with top- and bottom-side cooling, are based on the CoolSiC™ Generation 2 (G2) technology and offer significantly improved performance, reliability, and ease of use. The product families target high- and medium-power switched-mode power supplies (SMPS) including AI servers, renewable energy, chargers for electric vehicles, e-mobility and humanoid robots, televisions, drives and solid-state circuit breakers.
The TOLL package offers outstanding Thermal Cycling on Board (TCoB) capability, enabling compact system designs by reducing the printed circuit board (PCB) footprint. When used in SMPS, it can also reduce system-level manufacturing costs. The TOLL package now fits an extended list of target applications, enabling PCB designers to further reduce costs and better meet market demands.
The introduction of the Q-DPAK package complements the ongoing development of Infineon’s new family of Topside Cooled (TSC) products, which includes CoolMOS™ 8, CoolSiC™, CoolGaN™ and OptiMOS™. The TSC family enables customers to achieve excellent robustness with maximum power density and system efficiency at low cost. It also enables direct heat dissipation of 95 percent, allowing the use of both sides of the PCB for better space management and reduction of parasitic effects.
The CoolSiC™ MOSFETs 650 V G2 in TOLL are now available in R DS(on) from 10 to 60 mΩ, while the Q-DPAK variant is available in 7, 10, 15 and 20 mΩ.
Original – Infineon Technologies
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Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) announced the release of the 4th edition of its groundbreaking textbook, GaN Power Devices for Efficient Power Conversion.
This latest edition reflects the rapid advancements in GaN technology and its transformative impact across various industries, including renewable energy, electric vehicles, data centers, robotics, and space applications. Co-authored by EPC CEO Dr. Alex Lidow and a team of GaN experts, the textbook remains an indispensable resource for engineers, students, and industry innovators looking to stay at the forefront of power electronics.
What’s New in the 4th Edition
- Expanded coverage on the integration of GaN into new applications such as AI servers, autonomous systems, and eMobility
- Updates on design techniques that maximize GaN’s superior efficiency, power density, and thermal performance
- Comprehensive insights into GaN ICs and their role in simplifying complex designs and improving system reliability
- A dedicated section on the latest advancements in GaN reliability and manufacturability
- Real-world application examples, case studies, and practical design tips for engineers.
“Since its inception, this textbook has guided engineers and innovators adopting GaN,” said Dr. Alex Lidow, CEO and co-author. “The 4th edition deepens understanding of GaN’s capabilities and empowers readers to unlock its full potential.”
This edition underscores EPC’s commitment to educating the power electronics community and supporting the adoption of GaN as the go-to technology for efficient power conversion. The textbook is available for purchase through Wiley.
Availability and Additional Resources
The 4th edition of GaN Power Devices for Efficient Power Conversion is available now. For additional resources, including evaluation boards, design support tools, and application notes, visit epc-co.com.
Original – Efficient Power Conversion
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SemiQ Inc has announced the QSiC 1200V MOSFET, a third-generation SiC device that shrinks the die size while improving switching speeds and efficiency.
The device is 20% smaller versus QSiC’s second-generation SiC MOSFETs and has been developed to increase performance and cut switching losses in high-voltage applications. SemiQ is targeting a diverse range of markets including EV‑charging stations, solar inverters, industrial power supplies and induction heating.
It will be on display for the first time at the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC), on March 16-20, 2025.
In addition to having a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) of 1200 V, the MOSFET reduces total switching losses to 1646 µJ and has a low on-resistance (RDS,on) of 16.1 mΩ. It is available as a bare die or in a four-pin TO-247 4L discrete package measuring 31.4 x 16.1 x 4.8 mm, which includes a reliable body diode and a driver-source pin for gate driving.
High-quality Known Good Die (KGD) testing has been conducted using UV tape and Tape & Reels, with all parts undergoing testing and verification at voltages exceeding 1400V, as well as being avalanche tested to 800 mJ. Reliability is further improved through the device’s 100% wafer-level gate oxide burn-in screening and 100% UIL testing of discrete packaged devices.
The device has been developed to have a low reverse recovery charge (QRR 470 nC) and lower capacitance, improving switching speed, switching losses, EMI and overall efficiency; to be easy to parallel; and with a longer creepage distance (9 mm), improving electrical insulation, voltage tolerance and reliability.
Dr. Timothy Han, President at SemiQ said: “The move to Gen3 SiC further increases the benefits of SiC MOSFETs over IGBTs. These devices not only deliver vastly improved performance, but cut die size and cost versus previous generations. As a result, the launch of the QSiC 1200V opens the technology, and its benefits, to a far greater range of applications. The device delivers industry leading performance figures, notably on gate threshold voltage, and we’re delighted to be demonstrating this first at APEC.”
The QSiC 1200V MOSFETs has a continuous operational and storage temperature of -55oC to 175oC. It has a recommended operational gate-source voltage of -4/18 V, with a VGSmax of -8/22 V, and a power dissipation of 484 W (core and junction temperature 25oC).
For static electrical characteristics, the device has a junction-to-case thermal resistance of 0.26oC per watt (40oC per watt junction to ambient). Its Zero gate voltage drain current is 100 nA, with a gate-source voltage current of 10 nA. Its AC characteristics include a turn-on delay time of 21 ns with rise time of 25 ns; its turn-off delay time is 65 ns with a fall time of 20 ns.
An increased range of resistances is available in bare-die and TO-247 4L packages with the following options:
- 16 mΩ: GP3T016A120X / GP3T016A120H
- 20 mΩ: GP3T020A120X / GP3T020A120H
- 40 mΩ: GP3T040A120X / GP3T040A120H
- 80 mΩ: GP3T080A120X / GP3T040A120H
Both the 16 mΩ (AS3T016A120X / AS3T016A120H) and 40 mΩ (AS3T040A120X / AS3T040A120H) options have been qualified for Automotive Applications Product Validation according to AEC-Q101.
The SemiQ QSiC 1200V will be on display at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, from March 16 to 20, 2025. Visitors to SemiQ’s booth #1348 will have the opportunity to explore the new third-generation MOSFETs.
Original – SemiQ
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Navitas Semiconductor’s 8.5kW power supply unit (PSU), powered by GaNFast™ and GeneSiC™ technologies, has been recognized for its innovative design. Tailored for AI and hyperscale data centers, the PSU achieves 98% efficiency while meeting Open Compute Project (OCP) and Open Rack v3 (ORv3) specifications.
The design minimizes ripple current, EMI, and device count by 25%, reducing costs. Its 3-phase LLC topology utilizes GaNSafe™ technology with integrated control, drive, sensing, and protection, along with Gen-3 Fast SiC MOSFETs for enhanced performance and reliability.
Original – Navitas Semiconductor
