Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T06:39:11.140Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A highly efficient GHz switching GaN-based synchronous buck converter module

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 April 2020

Andreas Wentzel Open the ORCID record for Andreas Wentzel [Opens in a new window] ,
Oliver Hilt ,
Joachim Würfl  and
Wolfgang Heinrich
Andreas Wentzel*
Affiliation:
Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH), Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Berlin, Germany
Oliver Hilt
Affiliation:
Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH), Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Berlin, Germany
Joachim Würfl
Affiliation:
Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH), Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Berlin, Germany
Wolfgang Heinrich
Affiliation:
Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH), Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Berlin, Germany
*
Author for correspondence: Andreas Wentzel, E-mail: Wentzel@fbh-berlin.de
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The paper presents a highly efficient GaN-based synchronous buck converter suitable for switching in the lower GHz range. The module includes a very compact 2-stage GaN half-bridge converter MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) for low parasitic inductances between switches and drivers and a hybrid output network with core-less inductors to avoid ferrite losses. At 1 GHz switching frequency the buck converter achieves with pulse-width modulated (PWM) input signals power loop conversion efficiencies up to 78% for 40 V operation and output voltages up to 33 V. For 100 MHz the power loop efficiencies peak at 87.5% for 14.5 W conversion to 25 V. By changing the output network to a 2nd order low-pass with 700 MHz cut-off frequency the module has been characterized for the use as a supply modulator in very broadband envelope tracking systems with modulation bandwidths of up to 500 MHz. For 1 GHz switching frequency the power-added efficiency peaks at 74% for a 90% duty-cycle PWM input signal. The novelty of this work is that for the first time a buck converter design proves highest flexibility supporting different applications from very compact DC converters to microwave power amplifier efficiency enhancement techniques as well as efficient high frequency switching up to 1 GHz.

Keywords

Buck converterDC/DC converterGaNpower amplifiersenvelope tracking
Type
Research Paper
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 12 , Special Issue 10: EuMCE 2019 Special Issue (Part II) , December 2020 , pp. 945 - 953
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Zhang, Y, Rodriguez, M and Maksimovic, D (2016) Very high frequency PWM buck converters using monolithic GaN half-bridge power stages with integrated gate drivers. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics 31, 7926–7942.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Würfl, J, Hilt, O,Bahat-Treidel, E, Kurpas, P, Chevtchenko, S A, Bengtsson, O, Ersoy, E, Liero, A, Wentzel, A, Heinrich, W, Badawi, N and Dieckerhoff, S (2013) Enabling GaN high speed devices: microwave meets power electronics – and vice versa. Proceedings of European Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference (EuMiC) 2013, Nuremberg, Germany, pp. 176–179.Google Scholar
Perreault, DJ, Hu, J, Rivas, JM, Han, Y, Leitermann, O, Pilawa-Podgurski, RCN, Sagneri, A and Sullivan, CR (2009) Opportunities and challenges in very high frequency power conversion. Proceedings of 2009 24th Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, pp. 1–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Komatsuzaki, Y, Lanfranco, S, Kolmonen, T, Piirainen, O, Tanskanen, JK, Sakata, S, Ma, R, Shinjo, S, Yamanaka, K and Asbeck, P (2018) A High efficiency 3.6–4.0 GHz envelope tracking power amplifier using GaN soft-switching buck-converter. 2018 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, Philadelphia, USA, pp. 465–468.Google Scholar
Rodriguez, M, Zhang, Y and Maksimovic, D (2014) High-frequency PWM buck converters using GaN-on-SiC HEMTs. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics 29, 2462–2473.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sepahvand, A, Zhang, Y and Maksimovic, D (2015) 100 MHz isolated DC-DC Resonant converter using spiral planar PCB transformer. IEEE 16th Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL), pp. 1–8.Google Scholar
Hong, Y-P, Mukai, K, Gheidi, H, Shinjo, S and Asbeck, PM (2013) High efficiency GaN switching converter IC with bootstrap driver for envelope tracking applications. 2013 IEEE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits Symposium (RFIC), Seattle, USA, pp. 353–356.Google Scholar
Ramos, I, Ruiz, MN, Garia, JA, Maksimovic, D and Popovic, Z (2015) A Planar 75% efficient GaN 1.2-GHz DC-DC converter with self-synchronous rectifier. 2015 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, Phoenix, USA, pp. 1–4.Google Scholar
Asbeck, P and Popovic, Z (2016) ET comes of age: envelope tracking for higher-efficiency power amplifiers. IEEE Microwave Magazine 17, 16–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wentzel, A, Hilt, O, Würfl, J and Heinrich, W (2019) A Highly efficient GHz switching GaN-based synchronous buck converter module. Proceedings of 2019 European Microwave Conference in Central Europe (EuMCE), Prague, Czech Republic, Electronic ISBN: 978-2-87487-067-5.Google Scholar
Lasser, G, Duffy, M, Vance, J and Popovic, Z 2017 Discrete-level envelope tracking for broadband noise-like signals. 2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, Honolulu, USA, pp. 1942–1945.Google Scholar