High-Efficiency and compact GaN buck converter evaluation board for USB PD applications

Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) has released the EPC91109, a high-performance evaluation board designed to demonstrate the benefits of eGaN FETs in a compact, thermally efficient, two-phase synchronous buck converter. Targeting USB Power Delivery (USB-PD 3.1) applications up to 180W, the board is optimised for space- and power-constrained designs such as laptops, portable devices, and battery-powered systems.

The board combines four 50V-rated EPC2057 GaN FETs with the Analog Devices LTC7890, a dual-phase buck controller, to deliver output voltages of 12V, 16V, or 20V from an input range of 20V to 36V. In two-phase interleaved mode, it supports output currents up to 14.3A, matching the full 180W USB-PD power envelope at 12V output from a 36V source.

“The EPC91109 shows GaN’s power density and efficiency for USB PD. It’s a compact, robust platform that needs no heatsink or airflow—even at full power,” said Alex Lidow, CEO of EPC.

Key Features of the EPC91109 Evaluation Board:

• Configurable to operate in either two-phase or single-phase, dual output mode
• Up to 180W output (12V at 14.3A)
• Ultra-compact power stage: 24mm x 24mm
• Low-profile inductor of 3 mm height
• No heatsink or forced air cooling required
• Configurable light-load modes and dead-time settings
• Peak efficiency > 98% under standard operating conditions

The evaluation board demonstrates how EPC’s latest generation GaN FETs and advanced controllers from Analog Devices can be combined to produce smaller, faster, cooler converters that outperform silicon-based alternatives.