60V 30A GaN motor drive for drones, robotics and e-bikes

“The small size of this inverter allows integration into the motor housing resulting in the lowest EMI, highest density and lowest weight,” said the company.

Called EPC9167HC, the design uses two paralleled EPC2065 power transistors (seen as three groups of four in the photo) in each position of a six-position three-phase bridge to deliver up to 42A peak (30Arms).

A second version, EPC9167, uses only one transistor in each position and is rated at 20Arms.

The design will operate from inputs between 14 and 60V (48V nominal) and contains function including gate drivers (ST Microelectronics STDRIVEG600), regulated auxiliary housekeeping power rails, protection and sensing for voltage, temperature and current (phase and leg shunt).

Default setting is for 100kHz switching and 14ns dead-time, but both of these can be changed.

“Operation at around 100kHz allows for the elimination of electrolytic capacitors,” according to the company. “Operating with dead-time of around 14ns allows higher torque per ampere.” compared to a 20kHz and 500ns dead-time inverter.

The board, which need a heatsink to operate, is 130 x 100mm, and can be re-configured for multi-phase dc-dc conversion.

It expects PWM input signals – EPC also has interface boards to connect the inverter board to a controller board development tool.

Digi-Key is stocking EPC9167HC, and there is an app note amongst other documents.