Power Up

Integrating precise current sensing into wide-bandgap (WBG) power converters faces challenges due to space constraints, high sensing speeds and electromagnetic interference (EMI). In this podcast with Ali Parsa Sirat and Babak Parkhideh, from the Photovoltaic Integration Lab at UNC Charlotte, we explore the limitations and new methods to enhance sensor performance in WBG converters.

In this podcast with Tim McDonald, senior consulting advisor for Infineon Technologies’ CoolGaN program, we delve into power electronics and their critical role in achieving net-zero emissions.

In this podcast, Nexperia’s Sebastian Fahlbusch, manager of the Power Product Application Competence Center, and Dilder Chowdhury, director of strategic marketing for power GaN technology, explore advancements in wide-bandgap technologies. They discuss the advantages of SiC MOSFETs and the benefits of GaN in industrial applications, as well as the main features of CCPAK packaging. They also mentioned a partnership with Mitsubishi to develop innovative power semiconductor solutions.

In this episode, top semiconductor companies at APEC 2024 delve into the world of wide-bandgap power devices.

Gallium nitride (GaN) technology is revolutionizing diverse applications, from LiDAR systems to motor control. LiDAR employs pulsed lasers for precise distance measurement, generating detailed 3D images. In this episode of PowerUP featuring Alex Lidow, CEO of EPC, we delve into an examination of the revolutionary implications of GaN technology across a range of applications, with a specific focus on motor control and LiDAR systems. We investigate its function in LiDAR, where GaN-based FETs function as efficient laser-switching drivers. We also discover how GaN transistors enhance the efficacy and efficiency of motor control components, such as those found in e-bikes.

In an era characterized by a significant surge in global energy consumption, which is anticipated to rise by 47% over the next three decades, the need for sustainable and alternative energy sources has become increasingly important. Energy harvesting is a viable option that involves the capture of energy from renewable sources, including solar, mechanical and thermal sources. In this podcast with Tristan Cool, industrial IoT product marketing manager at Silicon Labs, we will analyze the advantages and design issues with energy harvesting for low power.

In today’s episode, Philip Zuk, senior VP of business development and marketing at Transphorm, will provide insights into the latest breakthroughs in power systems and GaN semiconductor technology, as well as an exciting development from Transphorm known as SuperGaN. Transphorm and other companies, such as Nexperia, manufacture normally-off cascode devices. A primary benefit of this configuration strategy is the backward compatibility of the gate drive with silicon MOSFETs. Join us as we explore the competition between silicon, SiC and GaN, promising consumers more efficient, cost-effective systems in the tech landscape.

Imagine an energy grid in which every component, from the power source to the appliances in our homes, communicates seamlessly through a digital ecosystem. This grid operates with efficiency, adapts instantaneously to changing demands and integrates renewable energy sources seamlessly.

Our guest today is Antonello Monti, a distinguished expert in the field of energy, professor at RWTH Aachen University, group leader at Fraunhofer FIT and Technical Advisory Council chair at Linux Foundation Energy. Monti is at the forefront of the movement toward fully digitalized energy grids, a game-changing concept that promises increased flexibility, efficiency and sustainability.

Our future environment depends on renewable and sustainable energy. To maximize sustainable energy sources, energy gathering and grid integration are essential. Silicon carbide makes green energy systems more efficient and resilient. To ensure high-quality goods and system design flexibility, end-to-end vertical integration is necessary. In this podcast with Simon Keeton, executive vice president and general manager of the power solutions group at onsemi, we analyze the pivotal role that SiC solutions play in optimizing energy harvesting and efficient grid integration for sustainable energy sources. We will also introduce the next PowerUP Energy Virtual Conference, coming on Dec. 12 and 13.

Finwave, an MIT-founded startup, has been making waves with its patented 3DGaN technology, promising to revolutionize the landscape of energy-efficient 5G/6G communications, data centers, automotive, IoT and beyond. We dive deep into the world of semiconductor innovation with an interview featuring Pierre-Yves Lesaicherre, Finwave Semiconductor’s newly appointed CEO, and explore the remarkable advancements in linearity, manufacturing and applications that 3DGaN technology brings to the forefront.