Cambridge GaN Devices Brings GaN Advantages To Motor Control
Cambridge, England ( BUSINESS WIRE ) - Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD) is a fabless clean technology semiconductor company dedicated to developing a variety of energy-efficient gallium nitride (GaN) devices. To achieve more environmentally friendly electronic components. CGD is collaborating with Qorvo ® (Nasdaq: QRVO), a leading global provider of connectivity and power solutions, to develop a reference design and evaluation kit (EVK) for GaN in motor control applications. CGD aims to accelerate the use of GaN power ICs in brushless DC motor (BLDC) and permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) applications to create higher power, efficient, compact and reliable systems. Qorvo uses CGD's ICeGaN™ (IC Enhanced GaN) technology in the EVK designed for its PAC5556A high-performance BLDC/PMSM motor controller and driver.
GiorGIA LONGOBARDI | CEO of CGD
"Unlike the GaN performance offered by other peers, the ICeGaN HEMT we offer provides interface circuitry without an integrated controller; thus by simply combining it with highly integrated motor controllers and driver ICs, IceGaN can be used by companies such as Qorvo PAC5556A 600 V high-performance BLDC/PMSM motor controllers and drivers drive effortlessly. We are pleased to partner with Qorvo to enable their motor controller and driver applications to take advantage of the power benefits of CGD GaN.”
JEff Strang | General Manager, Qorvo Power Management Division
“Wide bandgap transistors such as GaN and silicon carbide (SiC) are actively used in various motor control applications due to their higher power density and efficiency advantages. CGD’s ICeGaN products provide ease of use and reliability that are two key concerns for motor control and drive designers. We are excited to see the response from design engineers when they combine CGD’s ICeGaN with our highly integrated PAC5556A 600V brushless DC motor control solution.”
GaN offers several benefits including lower losses, resulting in higher efficiency, which in turn increases power availability and generates less heat. This reduces the need for complex, bulky and expensive thermal management solutions, resulting in smaller, more powerful systems that last longer. GaN also provides higher torque at low speeds, which allows for more precise control. In addition, GaN allows high-speed switching, which can reduce audible noise, which is especially important for appliances such as ceiling fans, heat pumps and freezers.
In addition to ease of use, ICeGaN offers several significant advantages over other GaN devices. The gate drive voltage of ICeGaN is compatible with IGBT. Since ICeGaN integrates Miller clamp bits within the GaN IC, a negative turn-off voltage is not required and low-cost current drivers can be used. Finally, ICeGaN includes useful current sensing capabilities, simplifying circuit design and reducing bill of materials (BOM).
The reference design is available now, and EVK RD5556GaN will be available in the third quarter of this year. The product will be publicly displayed for the first time at the PCIM exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany, from June 11 to 13, 2024. CGD’s booth number is 7-643. Qorvo booth number is 7-406.
About Cambridge GaN Devices
Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD), a British company, focuses on the design, development and commercialization of GaN transistors and ICs, and is committed to promoting fundamental changes in energy efficiency and improving power density. Our mission is to provide a variety of simple and energy-efficient GaN solutions to bring innovation into daily life. CGD’s ICeGaN™ technology has been proven suitable for large-scale production , and the company is rapidly expanding, with manufacturer and distributor partnerships in place. CGD is a fabless semiconductor company spun off from the University of Cambridge. Founders and CEO Dr. Giorgia Longobardi and Chief Technology Officer Professor Florin Udrea and other company founders are still affiliated with Cambridge University's prestigious High Voltage Microelectronics and Sensors Group ( HVMS) maintain close cooperation. With CGD's dedicated efforts to promote innovation, ICeGaN HEMT technology has acquired a series of powerful and continuously expanding IP portfolios, enjoying solid and reliable intellectual property protection. The technical and commercial expertise of the CGD team, coupled with its proven track record in the power electronics market, is the basis for the company's proprietary technology to be recognized in the market.
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