GaN FETs Enable 75 - 231 Ampere Laser Diode Control in Nanoseconds for Lidar

­EPC launches three laser driver boards dubbed EPC9179, EPC9181 and EPC9180 containing pulse current laser drivers of 75 A, 125 A, and 231 A, showcasing EPC's AEC-Q101-qualified GaN FETs. These FETs (EPC2252, EPC2204A, and EPC2218A) are 30% smaller and said to be more cost-effective than their predecessors. Designed for both long and short-range automotive lidar systems, these boards expedite solution evaluation with varied input and output options. All boards share identical functionality, differing only in peak current and pulse width. Utilizing a resonant discharge power stage, they employ a ground-referenced GaN FET driven by LMG1020 gate driver. The GaN FET's ultrafast switching enables rapid discharge of a charged capacitor through the load's stray inductance, enabling peak discharge currents of tens to hundreds of amps within nanoseconds. The PCB is designed to minimize power loops and common source inductance while offering mounting flexibility for laser diodes or alternative loads. To enhance user-friendliness, all boards ship with EPC9989 interposer PCBs, featuring various footprints to accommodate a variety of laser diodes or other loads. Customers can choose one that meets their needs to evaluate the GaN solutions. The EPC9179/81/80 boards are triggered from 3.3V logic or differential logic signals such as LVDS. For single-ended inputs, the boards can operate with input voltages down to 2.5V or 1.8V with a simple modification. EPC provides full schematics, BOM, PCB layout files and a quick start guide on its website.

EPC