Moore's Law, GaN and SiC devices - Gallimaufry GaN Gabble

The Amp Hour · 20 Sept 2011 · 1h 10m · Episode 61

What this episode covers

Dave Jones, Chris Gammell, and Jeff Kaiser discuss the Open Hardware Summit and Maker Faire, highlighting the Arduino team's announcement of the Arduino Leonardo and the ARM-based Arduino Due. They analyze the implications of Moore's Law slowing down, with a focus on Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon Carbide (SiC) technologies enabling higher frequency switching and integrated power electronics. The conversation also covers the DirectFET2 package from International Rectifier, which uses flip-chip technology to significantly reduce thermal impedance compared to traditional D2PAK packages.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • EE Times Current · 29m

    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.

  • The Circuit · 42m

    Episode 67: A Conversation with Aart de Geus on EDA and the Future of Silicon Design

    Aart de Geus, co-founder and executive chair of Synopsys, discusses the evolution of electronic design automation (EDA) and the future of silicon design. He explains how the industry shifted from analog to digital design, enabling the automation that drove Moore's Law, and details the transition to the Angstrom era with technologies like FinFETs and backside power delivery. De Geus also highlights the rise of systemic complexity through chiplets and vertical stacking, and the critical role of AI in optimizing these complex multi-die architectures.

  • Moore's Lobby · 56m

    Powering a Green Future: Insights from Infineon's Peter Wawer

    Peter Wawer, Division President of Green Industrial Power at Infineon Technologies, recounts his career from silicon PV research at Siemens to embedded Flash development, and back to power semiconductors. He details the technical evolution of memory technologies, the challenges of scaling Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) manufacturing, and the strategic impact of Infineon's acquisition of International Rectifier and the failed attempt to acquire Cree. Wawer also discusses the dramatic cost reductions in solar energy and the critical role of packaging in managing heat in high-power devices.

  • EE Times Current · 23m

    How FIT is GaN?

    Doug Bailey, VP of Marketing and Applications Engineering at Power Integrations, explains how the company validated Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology for high-reliability applications by first deploying it in the high-volume charger market to gather real-world failure data. He details Power Integrations' decision to use depletion mode devices with cascode configurations to achieve lower costs and higher efficiency compared to enhancement mode alternatives, while also discussing the technical necessity of 750V and 900V variants for appliances and automotive systems. Bailey argues that GaN’s low parasitics allow for simpler power supply topologies, such as flyback converters at higher power levels, and predicts that GaN will eventually replace silicon in many applications due to its favorable energy processing costs.

  • Moore's Lobby · 51m

    GaN Powers Up in AI, Robotics, and Our Lives

    Alex Lidow, CEO of EPC (Efficient Power Conversion), discusses his journey from co-inventing HexFETs at International Rectifier to founding EPC to commercialize Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology. He details the physics of GaN, the early struggles with manufacturing yields, and the pivotal role of LiDAR and space electronics in driving adoption. Lidow also highlights the current tipping points in AI power supplies and the future potential of GaN in humanoid robotics.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Amp Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.