Recently, STMicroelectronics (Geneva, Switzerland) introduced a series of GaN flyback converters for compact, high-efficiency power supplies and chargers. Beginning with the VIPerGaN50W, the product is designed for reduced load operation and high power density and can be used in USB-PD chargers, fast battery chargers, and auxiliary power supplies.
The VIPerGaN converters provide a flyback control and power stage option for power supply and charger designs using the quasi-resonant mode standard.
Features & Benefits:
- Integrated Components: Contains a 700V GaN power transistor, flyback controller, and optimized gate driver in a compact power package.
- Operating Mode: Operates in quasi-resonant mode with Zero-Voltage Switching (ZVS) up to the full load.
- Silent Operation: Proprietary valley lock stabilizes the number of valleys skipped, preventing variations at audio frequencies to ensure soundless operation across the load range.
- Efficiency Management: Frequency foldback at light load and valley skipping at mid-to-high load limit the switching frequency for optimal efficiency.
- No-Load Consumption: Operates in burst mode at no-load, cutting power consumption below $30 \text{mW}$.
- Power Stability: Line-voltage feedforward ensures output power and switching frequency remain stable under supply voltage changes.
- Safety Features: Includes input and output overvoltage protection, thermal shutdown, and brown-in and brown-out protection.
- Package: Available in a $5 \text{mm} \times 6 \text{mm}$ Power QFN (PQFN) package.
Compliance & Suitability:
- Complies with: Strict eco-design regulations (due to $<30 \text{mW}$ no-load consumption).
- Certified according to: [No information specified in the source text.]
- Suitable for: USB-PD chargers, fast battery chargers, and auxiliary power supplies requiring high power density and silent operation.
The EVLVIPGAN50WF evaluation board is available now to accelerate converter development. The VIPerGaN50W is in production and available at the eSTore and distributors. For more information , visit www.st.com/vipergan50w.
