EPC Space has introduced radiation-hardened gallium nitride devices for space-borne power converters and other rugged environments.
Electronics Weekly
August, 2023
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GaN devices offer a plethora of benefits that align well with the demands of the space industry, addressing challenges related to reliability, radiation survivability, and space heritage.
Power Electronics News
August, 2023
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EPC Space introduces two new radiation-hardened (rad-hard) gallium nitride (GaN) devices in the high current “G-package” family for power conversion solutions in critical spaceborne and other high reliability environments.
Andover, MA.— August 2022 — EPC Space announces the introduction of two new rad-hard GaN transistors with ultra-low on-resistance and high current capability for high power density solutions that are lower cost and more efficient than the nearest comparable radiation-hardened silicon MOSFET. These devices come packaged in hermetic packages in very small footprints.
The EPC7020G is a 200 V, 14.5 mΩ, 200 Apulsed radiation-hardened gallium nitride transistor and the EPC7030G is a 300 V, 32 mΩ, 200 Apulsed radiation-hardened gallium nitride transistor. These devices join the 40 V, 4.5 mΩ EPC7019G and the 100 V, 4.5 mΩ EPC7018G to cover applications including power supplies for satellites and space mission equipment, motor drives for robotics, instrumentation and reaction wheels, and deep space probes. This product family comes packaged in a compact hermetic package in a footprint less than 45 mm2.
| Part Number | Drain to Source Voltage (VDS) | Drain to Source Resistance (RDS(on)) | Single-Pulse Drain Current (IDM) |
| EPC7019G | 40 V | 4 mΩ | 530 A |
| EPC7018G | 100 V | 6 mΩ | 345 A |
| EPC7020G | 200 V | 14.5 mΩ | 200 A |
| EPC7030G | 300 V | 32 mΩ | 200 A |
With higher breakdown strength, lower gate charge, lower switching losses, better thermal conductivity, and lower on-resistance, power devices based on GaN significantly outperform silicon-based devices and enable higher switching frequencies resulting in higher power densities, higher efficiencies, and more compact and lighter weight circuitry for critical spaceborne missions.
“The G-Package family offers the lowest on-resistance of any packaged rad hard transistor currently on the market,” said Bel Lazar, CEO of EPC Space. “These devices offer mission-critical components with superior figure of merit, significantly smaller size, and lower cost for the space and other high-reliability markets than alternative rad hard silicon solutions”.
Price & Availability
Contact factory for price, availability, and delivery.
About EPC Space
EPC Space provides revolutionary high-reliability radiation hardened enhancement-mode gallium nitride power management solutions for space and other harsh environments.
Radiation hardened GaN-based power devices address critical spaceborne environments for applications including power supplies, light detection and ranging (lidar), motor drive, and ion thrusters.
eGaN is a registered trademark of Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, Inc.
Press Contact
Efficient Space: Renee Yawger, +1 908 619 9678 email: renee.yawger@epc.space
GaN power devices should be the ideal choice for power conversion applications in space because they are more robust than rad hard MOSFETs when exposed to various forms of radiation. The electrical and thermal performance of GaN has also demonstrated superior operation in a space environment. In this podcast, Bel Lazar, Chief Executive Officer of EPC Space, will analyze the importance of GaN for the space industry. In addition to his role as CEO of EPC Space, Bel currently serves as COO of Efficient Power Conversion (EPC).
EETimes
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Micross to distribute EPC Space rad-hard GaN power devices to service the space, aerospace and other high reliability markets.
Andover, MA.— July 2022 — EPC Space today announced that Micross has agreed to become an authorized distributor for EPC Space’s line of packaged radiation-hardened GaN-on-silicon transistors and ICs, which are designed and qualified for satellite and other high-reliability applications.
Spanning a range of 40 V to 300 V, EPC Space offers a family of rad hard enhancement mode power transistors. These power transistors demonstrate significant performance advantages over competitive silicon-based rad hard power MOSFETs. EPC Space technology produces GaN devices that are smaller, lighter and better performing, meaning the devices have many times superior switching performance compared to silicon solutions.
To complement the EPC Space discrete products, Micross will also distribute EPC Space’s family of rad hard enhancement mode GaN drivers and power stages. These rad-hard GaN drivers are optimized to drive the rad hard GaN transistors in critical spaceborne systems and applications. The Rad hard power stages integrate a high-speed gate drive circuit with power switches to provide a complete monolithic power stage in a tiny footprint for a smaller, lighter solution.
This agreement combines the superior performance and reliability of EPC Space’s rad-hard GaN Technology with Micross’ vast portfolio of high reliability product lines along with their far reaching and outstanding relationship driven network within the high reliability community.
Critical spaceborne applications that benefit from the performance improvements that EPC Space devices offer include power supplies for satellites and mission equipment, light detection and ranging (lidar) for robotics, autonomous navigation and rendezvous docking, motor drives for robotics and instrumentation, and ion thrusters for satellite orientation and positioning as well as interplanetary propulsion of low-mass robotic vehicles.
“The addition of EPC Space’s rad-hard gallium nitride-based power management products complements Micross’ expansive hi-rel product solutions portfolio and global expertise in providing mission-critical components and services for hi-reliability applications,” said Mark Zack, Micross Components’ Sr. Vice President of Die & Wafer Services. “We are excited to offer these innovative products to the high reliability design community.”
“We are excited to bring our leading-edge high performance rad-hard GaN technology together with the expertise of Micross to reach wider and deeper into the Space marketplace where these customer’s power applications require “state of the art” performance along with greater power density solutions,” said Bel Lazar, EPC Space’s CEO.
About EPC Space
EPC Space provides revolutionary high-reliability radiation-hardened enhancement-mode gallium nitride (eGaN®) power management solutions for space and other harsh environments. Radiation-hardened GaN-based power devices address critical spaceborne environments for applications including power supplies, light detection and ranging (lidar), motor drive, and ion thrusters.
eGaN is a registered trademark of Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, Inc.
Press Contact
EPC Space: Renee Yawger tel: +1-908.619.9678 email: renee.yawger@epc.space
About Micross
Micross (www.micross.com) is the global one-source provider of Bare Die & Wafers, Advanced Interconnect Technology, Custom Packaging & Assembly, Component Modification Services, Electrical & Environmental Testing and Hi-Rel Products to manufacturers and users of semiconductor devices. In business for more than 40 years, our extensive hi-reliability capabilities serve the Aerospace & Defense, Space, Medical and Industrial markets. Micross possesses the sourcing, packaging, assembly, engineering, test and logistics expertise needed to support an application throughout its entire program cycle.
Press Contact
Micross: Chris Stabile, Director of Corporate Marketing Communications, chris.stabile@micross.com
EPC Space expands its radiation-hardened (rad-hard) gallium nitride (GaN) transistor family for critical spaceborne and other high reliability environments.
Andover, MA.— July 2022 — EPC Space announces the introduction two new rad-hard GaN transistors with ultra-low on-resistance and extremely low gate charge for high power density solutions that are lower cost and more efficient than the nearest comparable radiation-hardened silicon MOSFET. These devices come packaged in hermetic packages in very small footprints. Chip-scale versions of this device are available from EPC.
| Part Number | Drain to Source Voltage (VDS) | Drain to Source Resistance (RDS(on)) | Single-Pulse Drain Current (IDM) | Package Size (mm) | Total Dose for Space Level Applications | Single Event (with VDS up to 100% of rated Breakdown) for Space Level Applications |
| EPC7018G | 100 V | 6 mΩ | 345 A | 8.0 x 5.6 | Rated to 1000 krad | SEE immunity for LET of 85 MeV/mg/cm2 |
| EPC7007B | 200 V | 28 mΩ | 80 A | 5.7 x 3.9 | Rated to 1000 krad | SEE immunity for LET of 85 MeV/mg/cm2 |
With higher breakdown strength, lower gate charge, lower switching losses, better thermal conductivity, and lower on-resistance, power devices based on GaN significantly outperform silicon-based devices and enable higher switching frequencies resulting in higher power densities, higher efficiencies, and more compact and lighter weight circuitry for critical spaceborne missions.
Applications benefiting from the performance of these products include DC-DC power supplies for satellites and space mission equipment, motor drives for robotics, instrumentation and reaction wheels, deep space probes, and ion thrusters.
“These two new additions to our rad-hard product line offer designers high power, ultra-low on-resistance solutions enabling a generation of power conversion and motor drives in space operating at higher efficiencies, and greater power densities than what is achievable with traditional silicon-based rad-hard solutions,” said Bel Lazar, CEO of EPC Space.
Price & Availability
EPC7018G and EPC7007B:
500 units pricing of $ $212.80/ea for engineering models and $315.84/ea for space level grade.
Contact factory for availability and delivery.
About EPC Space
EPC Space provides revolutionary high-reliability radiation-hardened enhancement-mode gallium nitride power management solutions for space and other harsh environments.
Radiation-hardened GaN-based power devices address critical spaceborne environments for applications including power supplies, light detection and ranging (lidar), motor drive, and ion thrusters.
eGaN is a registered trademark of Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, Inc.
Press Contact
EPC Space: Renee Yawger, +1 908 619 9678 email: renee.yawger@epc.space
EPC Space introduces a new 40 V radiation-hardened (rad-hard) gallium nitride (GaN) transistor for power conversion solutions in critical spaceborne and other high reliability environments.
Andover, MA.— April 2022 — EPC Space announces the introduction of EPC7019G, a 40 V, 4 mΩ, 530 Apulsed, radiation-hardened gallium nitride transistor that is lower in cost and is a more efficient solution than the nearest comparable radiation hardened (RH) silicon MOSFET. The EPC7019G has a total dose rating greater than 1 Mrad and SEE immunity for LET of 85 MeV/(mg/cm2). These devices come packaged in a new compact hermetic package with dual gate in a footprint less than 45 mm2. Chip-scale versions of this device are available from EPC.
With higher breakdown strength, lower gate charge, lower switching losses, better thermal conductivity, and lower on-resistance, power devices based on GaN significantly outperform silicon-based devices and enable higher switching frequencies resulting in higher power densities, higher efficiencies, and more compact and lighter weight circuitry for critical spaceborne missions.
Applications benefiting from the performance of these products include power supplies for satellites and space mission equipment, motor drives for robotics, instrumentation and reaction wheels, and deep space probes.
“The EPC7019G is the lowest on-resistance of any packaged rad hard transistor currently on the market,” said Bel Lazar, CEO of EPC Space. “This device offers a mission-critical component with superior figure of merit, significantly smaller size, and lower cost for the space and other high-reliability markets than alternative rad hard silicon solutions”.
Price & Availability
500 units pricing of $212 each for engineering models and $315 each for space level grade. Contact factory for availability and delivery.
About EPC Space
EPC Space provides revolutionary high-reliability radiation hardened enhancement-mode gallium nitride power management solutions for space and other harsh environments.
Radiation hardened GaN-based power devices address critical spaceborne environments for applications including power supplies, light detection and ranging (lidar), motor drive, and ion thrusters.
eGaN is a registered trademark of Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, Inc.
Press Contact
Efficient Space: Renee Yawger, +1 908 619 9678 email: renee.yawger@epc.space
HAVERHILL, MA.— February 2022 — EPC Space today announced that Digi-Key Electronics will be a global distributor for EPC Space’s line of radiation hardened (rad hard) GaN-on-silicon transistors and ICs, packaged, tested, and qualified for satellite and high-reliability applications.
Spanning a range of 40 V to 300 V, EPC Space offers a family of rad hard enhancement mode power transistors. These power transistors demonstrate significant performance advantages over competitive silicon-based rad hard power MOSFETs. EPC Space technology produces GaN devices that are smaller, have lower resistance, and have many times superior switching performance compared to silicon solutions.
Digi-Key will also distribute EPC Space’s family of rad hard enhancement mode GaN drivers and power stages. Rad hard GaN drivers are optimized to drive rad hard GaN transistors in critical spaceborne systems. Rad hard power stages integrate a high-speed gate drive circuit with power switches to provide a monolithic complete power stage in a tiny footprint for smaller, lower weight systems.
The drivers and power stages product line includes ultra-fast, low-side eGaN® drivers, ultra-fast, dual low-side eGaN drivers, and half-bridge drivers with integrated eGaN power switches.
Critical spaceborne applications that benefit from the performance improvements that these devices offer include power supplies for satellites and mission equipment, light detection and ranging (lidar) for robotics and autonomous navigation and rendezvous docking, motor drives for robotics and instrumentation, and ion thrusters for satellite orientation and positioning as well as interplanetary propulsion of low-mass robotic vehicles.
“The addition of EPC Space’s rad hard gallium nitride-based power management products completes the entire EPC’s product portfolio through Digi-Key and brings intriguing next-generation breakthrough benefits to existing silicon-based solutions,” said David Stein, vice president of global supplier management for Digi-Key. “We are thrilled to be able to offer these innovative products to the high reliability engineering community.”
“Digi-Key has the fastest global logistics and the most efficient supply chain to service customers from early engineering through volume production. Digi-Key’s world-class distribution capabilities will translate into fast and easy service to our global customers who want to access the entire line of EPC’s GaN power device products to replace their less-efficient, more costly silicon solutions,” said Bel Lazar, EPC Space’s CEO.
About EPC Space
EPC Space provides revolutionary high-reliability radiation hardened enhancement-mode gallium nitride (eGaN®) power management solutions for space and other harsh environments. Radiation hardened GaN-based power devices address critical spaceborne environments for applications including power supplies, light detection and ranging (lidar), motor drive, and ion thrusters.
eGaN is a registered trademark of Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, Inc.
Press Contact
Efficient Space: Renee Yawger tel: +1-908.619.9678 email: renee.yawger@epc.space
EPC Space announces the availability of a family of easy-to-use demonstration boards to help designers quickly and easily implement radiation-hardened (RH) gallium nitride (GaN) power devices into their high reliability and aerospace applications.
Satellite Evolution Group
February 9th, 2022
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EPC Space is providing easy-to-use demonstration boards ideal for evaluating the feature and capabilities of Rad Hard GaN power devices.
HAVERHILL, MA.— January 2022 — EPC Space announces the availability of a family of easy-to-use demonstration boards to help designers quickly and easily implement radiation hardened (RH) gallium nitride (GaN) power devices into their high reliability and aerospace applications.
A new family of demonstration boards offers fast prototyping and evaluation of the features and capabilities of EPC Space Rad Hard eGaN power devices. The offering includes the following: 1) a trio of low-side driver demo boards, EPC7C001, EPC7C002, EPC7C003, which utilize the EPC Space’s eGaN gate driver modules to drive a corresponding 40V, 100V, or 200V discrete eGaN FET; 2) EPC7C005 demonstration board that allows evaluation of the switching operation and conversion efficiency performance of the FBS-GAM02-P-C50 Rad Hard power module connected as a half-bridge point-of-load (POL) output stage; and 3) the EPC7C006 demo board which is a three-phase motor demonstration board that utilizes the FBS-GAM02-P-R50 module.
“Radiation Hardened eGaN FETs and ICs offer designers improved performance, lower cost, and shorter delivery times compared to RH silicon-based devices, said Bel Lazar, CEO of EPC Space. “We are happy to provide an easy-to-use evaluation platform to assist designers looking to convert their RH silicon designs to take advantage of the higher power densities, higher efficiencies, and better cost and delivery that GaN offers.”
EPC Space Demonstration Boards
| EPC Space P/N | Description | Featured Products |
| EPC7C001 | FBS-GAM01P-PSE FBG04N30 Demo Board | FBS-GAM01P-PSE, FBG04N30 |
| EPC7C002 | FBS-GAM01P-PSE FBG10N30 Demo Board | FBS-GAM01P-PSE, FBG10N30 |
| EPC7C003 | FBS-GAM01P-PSE FBG20N18 Demo Board | FBS-GAM01P-PSE, FBG20N18 |
| EPC7C005 | FBS-GAM02-P-C50 POL Eval. Board | FBS-GAM02-P-C50 |
| EPC7C006 | EPCS-GAM02-P-C50 3-Phase Motor Control Motherboard/Eval. Board | FBS-GAM02-P-R50 |
Price and Availability
5-unit pricing starts at $850/each with lead times of 6 weeks.
About EPC Space
EPC Space provides revolutionary high-reliability radiation hardened enhancement-mode gallium nitride power management solutions for space and other harsh environments.
Radiation hardened GaN-based power devices address critical spaceborne environments for applications including power supplies, light detection and ranging (lidar), motor drive, and ion thrusters.
eGaN is a registered trademark of Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, Inc.
Press Contact
Efficient Space: Renee Yawger tel: +1-908.619.9678 email: renee.yawger@epc.space