Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) has announced that its EPC2361 enhancement-mode gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistors are featured in a 4 kW buck-boost converter reference design developed by Analog Devices (ADI). The EVAL-LT7930-AZ platform pairs ADI’s LT7930 controller with EPC’s 100 V GaN FETs to demonstrate efficient, high-current power conversion for industrial systems, telecommunications infrastructure, battery chargers, and other high-power applications.
The reference design employs a dual-phase interleaved buck-boost topology, accepting input voltages between 36 V and 65 V and delivering a regulated 48 V output. It can provide up to 4 kW of output power, achieving typical conversion efficiencies of 98.5% at 36 V and 48 V input conditions and 98.8% with a 65 V input. By dividing current between two interleaved phases, the architecture supports high-power delivery while helping distribute electrical and thermal loads.
The converter’s power stage incorporates EPC’s EPC2361, a 100 V enhancement-mode GaN transistor rated for 133 A, with a typical on-resistance of just 0.75 mΩ. Its compact 3 mm × 5 mm package enables space-efficient designs and high power density. Low conduction losses and gate charge help minimize power dissipation during operation and switching. Unlike conventional silicon MOSFETs, the device also avoids the reverse-recovery charge associated with a body diode, offering an advantage in high-frequency power-conversion circuits.
Gate-drive optimization is another important feature of the reference platform. Based on ADI’s LT7930 controller, the design includes gate drivers tailored for GaN transistors and programmable dead-time control. The evaluation setup configures the EPC2361 with a 10 ns dead time to balance switching performance, reverse-conduction losses, and safe operation. Precise dead-time management is essential in high-efficiency power converters because excessive dead time can increase energy losses.
Beyond the EVAL-LT7930-AZ platform, the EPC2361 is suited to a broad range of power-electronics applications. These include high-power AC-DC power supplies, high-frequency DC-DC converters, data center power infrastructure, motor drives, robotics, drones, and solar maximum power point tracking (MPPT) systems.
EPC distributes the EPC2361 through its global sales network, including Digi-Key and Mouser. The company also offers technical documentation, simulation models, and evaluation hardware to help engineers assess the transistor and integrate it into customized power-conversion systems.
The collaboration between EPC and ADI demonstrates how GaN technology can support compact, high-power converter designs with conversion efficiencies approaching 99%, making it attractive for applications where energy efficiency, thermal management, and power density are key design priorities.
