Navitas introduces GaN ics with integrated sensors
Third generation GaNFast power ICs include real-time autonomous sensing and protection for the $4B mobile charger and consumer market
Navitas Semiconductor has announced the launch of GaNFast power ICs with GaNSense technology. GaNSense technology integrates critical, real-time, autonomous sensing and protection circuits.
According to the company, GaNSense technology integrates real-time, accurate and fast sensing of system parameters including current and temperature. This technology enables a patent-pending loss-less current-sensing capability, which improves energy savings by up to an additional 10 percent compared to prior generations, as well as further reducing external component count and shrinking system footprints.
In addition, if the GaN IC identifies a potentially dangerous system condition, the IC is designed to transition rapidly to a cycle-by-cycle sleep-state, protecting both the device and the surrounding system. GaNSense also integrates an autonomous standby-power feature which automatically reduces standby power consumption when the GaN IC is in idle-mode, helping to further reduce power consumptions, which is especially important to the growing list of customers aggressively pursuing their own environmental initiatives.
GaNSense technology means reducing dangerous over-current spikes by 50 percent and reducing time in the ‘danger zone’ by 50 percent compared to previous best-in-class solutions.
“From detection to protection in only 30 ns, GaNSense technology is 600 percent faster than discrete GaN implementations,” said Dan Kinzer, COO / CTO and co-founder of Navitas. “This next generation from Navitas provides a highly-accurate and effective defence against potential system failure modes. Couple that with immunity to transient voltages up to 800V and tight gate waveform control and voltage regulation, only possible with our proprietary process design kit, and you have a new standard in reliability, robustness and performance for power semiconductors.”
The new family of GaN power ICs with GaNSense technology spans ten products, which all have the core, critical GaNFast integration of GaN power, GaN drive, control and protection. All are rated at 650V/800V with 2kV ESD protection, and RDS(ON) ranging from 120 to 450 mOhms in 5×6 and 6×8 mm PQFN packaging… with the GaNSense protection circuits and loss-less current-sensing. This family of 3rd generation GaN ICs is optimised for modern power conversion topologies including high-frequency quasi-resonant (HFQR) flyback, active-clamp flyback (ACF) and PFC boost, which are popular to deliver the fastest, most efficient and smallest chargers and adapters within the mobile and consumer markets.
Target markets include fast-chargers for smartphones and laptops, with an estimated GaN potential of $2B/year, and another $2B/year consumer market including all-in-one PCs, TVs and home networking and automation. GaNSense technology is already used in Lenovo’s YOGA 65W laptop charger.
To date, over 30 million GaNFast power ICs have shipped, achieving over 116 billion device hours in the field – with zero reported GaN field failures. Each GaNFast power IC shipped has a 4-10x reduced carbon footprint and saves 4 kg of CO2 compared to legacy silicon chips, says Navitas.
