Powered by an eGaN FET, EPC’s EPC9196 is a 25-A RMS, 3-phase BLDC inverter optimized for 96-V to 150-V battery systems. The reference design targets medium-voltage motor drives, including steering in AGVs, traction in compact autonomous vehicles, and robotic joints.
The EPC9196 is built around the EPC2304, a 200-V, 3.5- mΩ (typical) eGaN FET in a thermally enhanced QFN package. This device enables high-efficiency operation with a peak phase current of 35 A and switching frequencies up to 150 kHz. GaN technology reduces switching losses and dead time, enabling smoother, quieter motor operation even at high PWM frequencies.
Featuring a wide input voltage range from 30 V to 170 V, the EPC9196 integrates gate drivers, housekeeping power, current and voltage sensing, overcurrent protection, and thermal monitoring. The reference design provides dv/dt control below 10 V/ns and supports both sensor-less and encoder-based control configurations. It is compatible with motor drive controller platforms from Microchip, ST, TI, and Renesas.
EPC9196 reference design boards cost $812.50 each and are available from DigiKey. The EPC2304 eGaN FET sells for $3.68 each in reels of 3,000 units.
The post Eval board eases battery motor-drive design appeared first on EDN.