GaN FETs enable 75-231A laser diode control in nanoseconds

These boards demonstrate the efficiency of EPC’s AEC-Q101 GaN FETs: EPC2252, EPC2204A, and EPC2218A, which are 30% smaller and more cost-effective than earlier models. Aimed at both long and short-range automotive lidar systems, the boards facilitate quick evaluation with various input and output configurations.

Each board has the same functionality, differing in peak current and pulse width. They utilise a resonant discharge power stage and a ground-referenced GaN FET driven by an LMG1020 gate driver. This setup allows for ultrafast switching in the GaN FET, discharging a capacitor through the load's stray inductance and achieving peak discharge currents from tens to hundreds of amps within nanoseconds. The boards are designed to minimise power loops and common source inductance, providing flexibility for mounting laser diodes or other loads. For convenience, all boards include EPC9989 interposer PCBs with different footprints to accommodate a range of laser diodes or loads.

These boards are compatible with 3.3V logic or differential logic signals like LVDS and can operate with single-ended inputs at 2.5 or 1.8V with minor modifications. EPC aims to simplify the evaluation process for robust GaN-based lidar drivers with these boards, given the complexity of designing automotive lidar systems. Comprehensive technical details, including schematics, BOM, PCB layout files, and a quick start guide, are available on EPC’s website.

Alex Lidow, CEO, and Co-Founder of EPC, emphasised the importance of these boards: “To meet the growing demand for automotive lidar, these cost-effective boards, featuring our latest AEC products, streamline evaluation, reducing time-to-market with exceptional switching performance.”

The EPC2252, EPC2204A, and EPC2218A GaN FETs are priced at $0.85, $1.37, and $2.71 each in 1Ku volumes, while the EPC9179, EPC9181, and EPC9180 boards are priced at $393.90, $454.50, and $424.20, respectively. Available for immediate delivery from DigiKey, designers can also use EPC's GaN Power Bench’s cross-reference tool for GaN solutions, accessible at EPC’s website.