At the end of day two of PCIM, we chatted with Peter from Power Integrations, who were displaying their latest PowiGaN devices for automotive applications. These 900 V automotive-qualified GaN solutions are designed to eliminate the 12 V battery in electric vehicles, meaning that there is no longer the need for the associated micro-DC-DC convertors.
As Peter explains, PowiGaN enables double the power per unit area of the PCB, with heat dissipated directly to the PCB for heatsink-less operation. Power Integrations’ new evaluation board / reference design, DER-953, is designed to demonstrate this latest technology while meeting all automotive specifications for direct testing within your automotive design.