Launched at APEC: High-Efficiency PowiGaN InnoSwitch ICs for Industrial and Automotive Applications
Power Integrations, the world leader in high-voltage integrated circuits (ICs) for energy-efficient power conversion, has announced a new line of gallium-nitride (GaN) InnoSwitch3™ flyback switcher ICs for industrial and automotive applications. These ICs, which feature the company’s proprietary PowiGaN™ technology, can handle up to 900 volts and deliver up to 100 watts with over 93% efficiency, eliminating the need for heat sinks and streamlining space-constrained designs.
The InnoSwitch3 family of ICs provides exceptional light-load efficiency, making them ideal for providing auxiliary power in electric vehicles during low-power sleep modes. The AEC-Q100-qualified InnoSwitch3-AQ family is particularly suitable for EVs based on 400-volt bus systems, where the 900-volt PowiGaN switch provides more power and increased design margin required for 12-volt battery-replacement systems, with enhanced efficiency over silicon-based converters.
In industrial applications such as appliances, three-phase motors, and auxiliary power supply units (PSUs) in servers, the new 900-volt parts provide increased safety margins, which is ideal for countries with unstable line voltages.
The new 900-volt InnoSwitch3-EP and InnoSwitch3-AQ off-line CV/CC flyback switcher ICs utilize synchronous rectification, a valley switching discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), and continuous conduction mode (CCM) flyback controller. The PowiGaN technology enables InnoSwitch3-EP ICs to deliver up to 100 watts (230 volts alternating current [VAC] plus or minus 15 percent) without heat sinks. InnoSwitch3-EP devices incorporate multiple protection features, including line over- and under-voltage protection, output over-voltage and over-current limiting, and over-temperature shutdown. Devices are available with standard and peak power delivery options.
“The extra power delivered by our GaN technology matches the increasing power demands of EV manufacturers. Moreover, efficiency in power conversion is important for range extension and thermal management,” said Peter Vaughan, automotive business development director at Power Integrations.
“The ability to deliver GaN parts rated at up to 900 volts demonstrates the reliability and ruggedness of our PowiGaN technology,” said Silvestro Fimiani, senior product marketing manager at Power Integrations.
With these innovations, Power Integrations continues to demonstrate its commitment to meeting the evolving power needs of industrial and automotive markets.
