Life, the Universe, and Power ICs
Doug Bailey, VP of Marketing and Applications Engineering at Power Integrations, explains the shift from silicon to gallium nitride (GaN) power ICs, highlighting how GaN's low capacitance enables smaller, more efficient power supplies. He discusses the practical cutoff for GaN adoption around 45 watts and the industry trend of removing chargers from phone boxes to reduce e-waste. Bailey argues that while GaN adapters are more expensive, their higher quality and multi-device capability provide greater value to consumers and reduce environmental impact.