24 IN-VEHICLE POWER www.epc-co.com Issue 4 2023 Power Electronics Europe www.power-mag.com How GaN-based power can smooth the road ahead for smaller, more efficient, cost-effective automotive infotainment systems In-vehicle infotainment systems poses a challenge to vehicle power design, explains Renee Yawger, Marketing Director at Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) In the rapidly evolving landscape of automotive technology, in-vehicle infotainment systems have become more than just a luxury – they are an integral part of the driving experience and becoming increasingly critical as the demand for connected and autonomous vehicles increases. In-vehicle infotainment systems are tasked with providing better connectivity solutions, improved vehicle safety and enhanced in-vehicle user experiences. Modern infotainment systems offer a plethora of advanced features, ranging from touch screen capabilities and Bluetooth communication to digital and high-definition TV, satellite radio, GPS navigation and even gaming. The integration of these features poses a challenge to the vehicle’s power system, demanding more efficient and compact power solutions. Gallium nitride (GaN)- based solutions can provide the higher power density, higher efficiency and lower cost designs that these systems require. The combination of GaN devices and analogue controllers that are optimised to extract the peak performance of GaN are addressing this challenge by providing designers with high power density and cost-effective solutions. FET selection GaN devices are characterised by their smaller size and lower capacitance compared to conventional silicon MOSFETs. This characteristic has significant implications for power efficiency and performance. The figure of merit (FoM) of GaN transistors compared to silicon (Si) MOSFETs enables the design of systems that can operate at much higher efficiency levels, leading to smaller, more efficient, cooler-running, and cost-effective solutions. All these features are critical to in-vehicle infotainment systems. To illustrate the practical implications of this improvement in FoM for the design of an in-vehicle infotainment system, consider the example of the EPC9160. This design is a dual output synchronous buck converter that operates at a 2MHz switching frequency, converting an input voltage of 9.0 to 24V to either a 3.3 or 5V output voltage, delivering up to 15A continuous current for both outputs. The design’s high switching frequency contributes to its compact size; measuring Figure 1: Efficiency and power loss comparison of GaN FET vs Si MOSFET
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