GaN Systems launches evaluation board combining GaN power transistors with Peregrine’s E-HEMT drivers

GaN Systems Inc of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada – a fabless developer of gallium nitride (GaN)-based power switching semiconductors for power conversion and control applications – has made available the GS61004B-EVBDC evaluation board, which combines what are claimed to be best-in-class GaN power transistors with the fastest commercially available GaN transistor driver.

The GS61004B-EVBDC evaluation platform is now available with the latest high-speed GaN E-HEMT drivers from Peregrine Semiconductor Corp of San Diego, CA, USA, a fabless provider of radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) based on silicon-on-insulator (SOI). The evaluation kit combines four of GaN Systems’ GS61004B GaN power transistors with two of Peregrine’s PE29102 E-HEMT drivers, providing power design engineers with benefits including: GaN transistors operable up to 100MHz; a transistor driver operable up to 40MHz; what is claimed to be a best-in-class propagation delay; optimized, Vcc independent, for matched dead time; and integrated dead-time control, resistor-adjustable.

The GS61004B GaN E-HEMTs generate low dead times to minimize crossover distortion in class-D applications. The PE29102’s unique set of phase-control pins enables the same part to be used for both phases in bridge-tied load (BTL) configurations — a technique used in audio amplifiers.

“By providing an evaluation kit with GaN Systems’ world’s-best power transistors and Peregrine Semiconductor’s fastest-ever GaN transistor driver, design engineers have an easy-to-use platform for optimizing their system’s performance and gaining a competitive advantage,” says Paul Wiener, VP strategic marketing for GaN Systems.

“By enabling GaN to reach its performance potential, UltraCMOS technology and Peregrine are playing a role in GaN’s disruption into more mainstream applications,” reckons Mark Moffat, director of Peregrine’s power management product line. “In the case of audio, GaN technology is enabling the next-generation of class-D audio advancements.”

The GS61004B-EVBDC evaluation platform includes a GaN E-HEMT driver GS61004B full-bridge evaluation board assembly and detailed user’s guide, and is available worldwide through distribution channels, priced at $99 each.