Two-Way GaN Switch For Power Systems

The two-way GaN switch simplifies power systems and works in solar, EV charging, batteries, motors, and data centers.

Infineon Technologies AG has launched the CoolGaN Bidirectional Switch (BDS) 650 V G5 — a gallium nitride (GaN) switch that can block voltage and current in both directions. It uses a common-drain layout and a double-gate structure, built on Infineon’s gate injection transistor (GIT) technology, to create a monolithic bidirectional switch using CoolGaN technology. This device is designed to replace traditional back-to-back switch setups in power converters.

The CoolGaN BDS simplifies the design of cycloconverter systems by combining two switches into one. This allows for single-stage power conversion, removing the need for multiple stages. As a result, the system becomes more efficient, reliable, and compact. Microinverters using this switch can achieve higher power density and use fewer components, which helps reduce manufacturing complexity and cost. The switch also supports grid-related features like reactive power compensation and two-way power flow.

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In microinverters, it enables simpler and more efficient designs, helping to reduce both size and cost. This makes microinverters more practical and attractive for use in residential and commercial solar systems.

In energy storage systems, such as battery chargers and dischargers, the switch allows for more efficient and reliable charging and discharging, improving overall system performance.

For electric vehicle charging, the BDS switch enables faster and more efficient charging. It also supports vehicle-to-grid (V2G) functions, allowing stored energy in a vehicle’s battery to be sent back into the grid.

In motor control, the CoolGaN BDS is well-suited for Current Source Inverters (CSI) used in industrial motor drives. In AI data centers, the CoolGaN BDS helps boost performance in server power supplies by supporting higher switching frequencies and power density. In designs like Vienna rectifiers and H4 PFCs, a single CoolGaN BDS can replace two traditional switches, cutting down on size, cost, component count, and power losses.