EPC brings GaN power to medium-voltage motor drives
Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) has announced the EPC9196, a high-performance 25 ARMS, 3-phase BLDC motor drive inverter reference design powered by the EPC2304 eGaN FET.
The new reference design targets medium-voltage (96 V – 150 V) battery-powered motor drive applications, including steering systems in automated guided vehicles (AGVs), traction motors in compact autonomous vehicles, and precision motor joints in robotics. According to the company, the board fills a critical gap in the motor drive reference design landscape.
“With the introduction of the EPC9196, we’re enabling engineers working in robotics, AGVs, and compact EVs to take full advantage of GaN’s superior performance without redesigning for high current,” said Marco Palma, director of Motor Drive Systems and Applications at EPC.
At the heart of the EPC9196 is the EPC2304, a 200 V-rated, 3.5 mΩ (typical) eGaN FET in a thermally enhanced QFN package. Chosen for its exceptionally low RDS(on) and unmatched performance in compact form factors, the EPC2304 enables the EPC9196 to deliver up to 35 Apk (25 ARMS) phase current at switching frequencies up to 100 kHz. This performance translates to low switching losses, minimal dead time, and a smooth, low-noise motor drive profile even at high PWM speeds.
Key features of the EPC9196 include and input voltage range from 30 V to 170 V; integrated gate drivers, housekeeping power, current and voltage sense, over-current protection, and thermal monitoring; and compatibility with multiple motor drive controller platforms from Microchip, ST, TI, and Renesas.
The EPC9196 has been validated in real-world conditions, powering a 3-kW servo motor at 150 VDC and 60 kHz switching frequency. The design is said to deliver clean waveforms with minimal ringing and demonstrates excellent thermal behavior with and without a heatsink, making it suitable for both bench evaluation and production-intent prototyping.
The EPC9196 reference design boards are priced at $812.50 The EPC2304 is priced at $3.68/ea in 3Ku reels.
