EPC has introduced the EPC7018 radiation-hardened GaN FET. The EPC7018 is a 100 V, 3.9 mΩ, 345 APulsed, rad-hard GaN FET in a small 13.9 mm2 footprint. The EPC7018 has a total dose radiation rating greater than 1 Mrad and SEE immunity for LET of 85 MeV/(mg/cm2). The EPC7018, along with the rest of the Rad Hard family, EPC7014, EPC7007, EPC7019, are offered in a chip-scale package, the same as the commercial eGaN FET and IC family. Packaged versions will be available from EPC Space.
With higher breakdown strength, lower gate charge, lower switching losses, better thermal conductivity, and very low on-resistance, power devices based on GaN significantly outperform silicon-based devices and enable higher switching frequencies resulting in higher power densities, higher efficiencies, and more compact and lighter weight circuitry for critical spaceborne missions. GaN devices also support higher total radiation levels and SEE LET levels than silicon solutions.
Applications benefiting from the performance and fast deployment of the EPC7018 include DC-DC power, motor drives, lidar, deep probes, and ion thrusters for space applications, satellites, and avionics.
The EPC7018 is available for engineering sampling and will be fully qualified for volume shipments in December 2022.