eGaN FET—Silicon Power Shootout Volume 8: Envelope Tracking

Focus:

In RF power amplifier (PA) applications where the peak-to-average power ratios (PAPRs) are high, the efficiency of the RF PA can be improved through use of an envelope tracking (ET) power supply. A multiphase buck converter is one option for this power supply and this article presents experimental results to demonstrate the feasibility of using EPC’s eGaN FETs in this application. The specifications for the experimental buck converter described here are based on ones developed for HV LDMOS-based digital video broadcasting (DVB) transmitters. The choice of EPC demo boards, and their configuration and construction for the experiment are explained, and experimental results (efficiency and thermal measurements) are presented. Finally, methods for optimizing converter efficiency are briefly discussed.

What you’ll learn:

• How to understand the potential benefits of eGaN FETs in envelope tracking power supplies

Notes:

It would have been more informative if the article had compared results obtained with the experimental GaN-based buck converter with those results obtained from a comparable buck converter using silicon MOSFETs.

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Author & Publication:

Johan Strydom, Ph.D.,V.P.,Applications, Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, Power Electronics Technology, Apr 30 2012

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