Development Board
EPC9041
Quick Start Guide
EPC2105
Monolithic Half-Bridge with Gate Drive
Revision 1.0
QUICK START GUIDE
Demonstration System EPC9041
DESCRIPTION
These development boards are in a monolithic half-bridge topology with
on-board gate drives, featuring the EPC2105 eGaNIC (Enhancement-mode
Gallium Nitride Integrated Circuit). The purpose of these development
boards is to simplify the evaluation process of these monolithically
integrated eGaN FETs by including all the critical components on a single
board that can be easily connected into any existing converter.
The development board is 2” x 2” and contains one eGaNIC in half-bridge
configuration using the Texas Instruments LM5113 gate driver, supply and
bypass capacitors. The board contains all critical components and layout
for optimal switching performance and has additional area to add buck
output filter components on board. There are also various probe points
to facilitate simple waveform measurement and efficiency calculation.
A complete block diagram of the circuit is given in Figure 1.
For more information on the EPC2105 eGaNIC, please refer to the
datasheet available from EPC at www.epc-co.com. The datasheet should
be read in conjunction with this quick start guide.
Table 1: Performance Summary (TA = 25°C) EPC9041
Symbol
Parameter
Min
Max
Units
7
12
V
VDD
Gate Drive Input Supply Range
VIN
Bus Input Voltage Range
50*
V
VOUT
Switch Node Output Voltage
50*
V
IOUT
Switch Node Output Current
20**
A
VPWM
PWM Logic Input Voltage Threshold
Input ‘High’
3.5
6
V
Input ‘Low’
0
1.5
V
Minimum ‘High’ State Input Pulse
Width
VPWM rise and fall
time < 10ns
50
ns
Minimum ‘Low’ State Input Pulse
Width
VPWM rise and fall
time < 10ns
100#
ns
*Maximum input voltage depends on inductive loading.
** Maximum current depends on die temperature – actual maximum current with be subject to switching frequency, bus
voltage and thermal cooling. Symmetrical eGaN intended for 50% duty cycle or low step-down ratio applications.
# Limited by time needed to ‘refresh’ high side bootstrap supply voltage.
SETUP AND OPERATION
The development boards are easy to set up to evaluate the performance
of the eGaNIC. The board allows the on-board placement of buck output
filter components. Refer to Figure 2 for proper connect and measurement
setup and follow the procedure below:
Conditions
VDD
Gate Drive
Regulator
PWM
Input
Logic and
Dead-time
Adjust
1. With power off, connect the input power supply bus to +VIN (J5, J6) and
ground / return to –VIN (J7, J8).
Gate Drive Supply
Monolithic
Half Bridge
VIN
LM5113
Gate
Driver
VSW
OUT
2. With power off, connect the switch node of the half bridge OUT (J3, J4)
to your circuit as required.
Pads for Buck Output Filter
3. With power off, connect the gate drive input to +VDD (J1, Pin-1) and
ground return to –VDD (J1, Pin-2).
Figure 1: Block Diagram of Development Board
4. With power off, connect the input PWM control signal to PWM
(J2, Pin-1) and ground return to any of the remaining J2 pins.
5. Turn on the gate drive supply – make sure the supply is between
7 V and 12 V range.
6. Turn on the bus voltage to the required value (do not exceed the
absolute maximum voltages).
7. Turn on the controller / PWM input source and probe switching node
to see switching operation.
8. Once operational, adjust the bus voltage and load PWM control within
the operating range and observe the output switching behavior,
efficiency and other parameters.
9. For shutdown, please follow steps in reverse.
VERSION
EPC9041 DEVELOPMENTBOARD
VDD Supply
+
Gate Drive Supply
(Note Polarity)
See table for max
A
Pads for Buck
Output Filter
+
VIN
_
V
IIN
+
VIN Supply
VSW
(For Efficiency
Measurement)
_
50 V
PGND
VOUT
PWM Input
NOTE. When measuring the high frequency content switch node (OUT), care must
be taken to avoid long ground leads. Measure the switch node (OUT) by placing
the oscilloscope probe tip through the large via on the switch node (designed for
this purpose) and grounding the probe directly across the GND terminals provided.
See Figure 3 for proper scope probe technique.
2 |
7 V – 12 V
_
+
V
_
VOUT
(For Efficiency
Measurement)
*
Figure 2: Proper Connection and Measurement Setup
| EPC – EFFICIENT POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION | WWW.EPC-CO.COM | COPYRIGHT 2017
QUICK START GUIDE
Demonstration System EPC9041
EPC9041 DEVELOPMENTBOARD
Do not use probe ground lead
Ground probe
against TP3
Minimize loop
Place probe tip
in large via at OUT
Figure 3: Proper Measurement of Switch Node – OUT
THERMAL CONSIDERATIONS
The EPC9041 development boards showcase the EPC2105 eGaNIC.
These development boards are intended for bench evaluation
with low ambient temperature and convection cooling. The addition
of heat-sinking and forced air cooling can significantly increase the
current rating of these devices, but care must be taken to not exceed
the absolute maximum die temperature of 150°C.
NOTE. These development boards do not have any current or thermal protection on
board.
Table 3: Bill of Materials - Amplifier Board
Item
Qty
Reference
Part Description
Manufacturer
1
3
C4, C10, C11,
Capacitor, 1 µF, 10%, 25 V, X5R
Murata, GRM188R61E105KA12D
2
2
C16, C17
Capacitor, 100 pF, 5%, 50 V, NP0
Kemet, C0402C101K5GACTU
3
2
C9, C19
Capacitor, 0.1 µF, 10%, 25 V, X5R
TDK, C1005X5R1E104K
4
4
C21, C22, C23, C24
Capacitor, 4.7 µF, 10%, 100 V, X7S
TDK, CGA4J3X7S2A105K125AE
5
2
D1, D2
Schottky Diode, 30 V
Diodes Inc., SDM03U40-7
6
3
J1, J2, J9
Connector
2 pins of Tyco, 4-103185-0
7
6
J3, J4, J5, J6, J7, J8
Connector
FCI, 68602-224HLF
8
1
Q1
eGaNIC
EPC2105
9
1
R1
Resistor, 10.0 k, 5%, 1/8 W
Stackpole, RMCF0603FT10K0
10
2
R2, R15
Resistor, 0 Ω, 1/8W
Stackpole, RMCF0603ZT0R00
11
2
R4, R5
Resistor, 47 Ω, 1%, 1/8W
Stackpole, RMCF0603FT47R0
12
4
R19, R20, R23, R24
Resistor, 0 Ω, 1/20W
Panasonic, ERJ-1GE0R00C
13
2
TP1, TP2
Test Point
Keystone Elect, 5015
14
1
TP3
Connector
1/40th of Tyco, 4-103185-0
15
1
U1
I.C., Logic
Fairchild, NC7SZ00L6X
16
1
U2
I.C., Gate driver
Texas Instruments, LM5113
17
1
U3
I.C., Regulator
Microchip, MCP1703T-5002E/MC
18
1
U4
I.C., Logic
Fairchild, NC7SZ08L6X
19
0
R14
Optional Resistor
20
0
D3
Optional Diode
21
0
P1, P2
Optional Potentiometer
EPC – EFFICIENT POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION | WWW.EPC-CO.COM | COPYRIGHT 2017 |
| 3
QUICK START GUIDE
J1
1
2
CON2
U3
IN
7
NC
MCP1703
1
OUT
2
NC
6
NC
NC
3
5
NC
GND
4
VCC
C11
1 µf, 25 V
C4
1 µf, 25 V
R1
10 k
CON2
J9
1
2
VCC
VDD
See Table 1
B
4
3
2
1
1
2
J5
CON4
1
2
3
4
U1
A
J2
TP2
Keystone 5015
1
9
GND
C10
1 µf, 25 V
8
PWM1
GND
J6
CON4
Y
NC7SZ00L6X
U4
A
U2
VDD
P1
Optional
B
GND
PWM2
Optional
Zero
1:4 HB
R24
LM5113TM
C16
SDM03U40
R5
47
J3
CON4
SW OUT
R20 Zero
47
2
Q1
Zero
C21 C22
C23 C24
1 µf, 100 V
J4
CON4
Zero
TP3
1
0.1 µf, 25 V
C19
100pF
CON1
D3
Optional
C17
100 pF
J7
CON4
Figure 4: EPC9041 Development Board Schematic
1
4
3
2
1
GND
TP1
Keystone 5015
J8
CON4
Demonstration System EPC9041
R15
Zero
R23
SDM03U40
R4
D2
R14
R19
2
D1
Y
NC7SZ08L6X
P2
Optional
0.1 µf, 25 V
C9
1
2
3
4
R2
Zero
1
2
3
4
CON2
4
3
2
1
EPC – EFFICIENT POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION | WWW.EPC-CO.COM | COPYRIGHT 2017 |
7 - 12 Vdc
| 4
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Demonstration Board Notification
The EPC9041 board is intended for product evaluation purposes only and is not intended for commercial use. Replace components on the Evaluation Board only with those parts shown on the
parts list (or Bill of Materials) in the Quick Start Guide. Contact an authorized EPC representative with any questions.
This board is intended to be used by certified professionals, in a lab environment, following proper safety procedures. Use at your own risk.
As an evaluation tool, this board is not designed for compliance with the European Union directive on electromagnetic compatibility or any other such directives or regulations. As board builds
are at times subject to product availability, it is possible that boards may contain components or assembly materials that are not RoHS compliant. Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC)
makes no guarantee that the purchased board is 100% RoHS compliant.
The Evaluation board (or kit) is for demonstration purposes only and neither the Board nor this Quick Start Guide constitute a sales contract or create any kind of warranty, whether express or
implied, as to the applications or products involved.
Disclaimer: EPC reserves the right at any time, without notice, to make changes to any products described herein to improve reliability, function, or design. EPC does not assume any liability arising out of
the application or use of any product or circuit described herein; neither does it convey any license under its patent rights, or other intellectual property whatsoever, nor the rights of others.
