EPC Announces a Full Range of Wireless Power Demonstration Kits That Can Be Used to Design Systems That Power Anything from Lamps to Laptops

Superior characteristics of eGaN® FETs and ICs, such as low output capacitance, low input capacitance, low parasitic inductances, and small size used in these demonstration kits show that GaN FETs and ICs are ideal for increasing efficiency in highly resonant, AirFuel™ Alliance compatible wireless power transfer systems.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--()--Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) today announces the availability of two new demonstration kits -- the EPC9127, a complete wireless power kit including a 10 W, class 2 amplifier, category 3 receiver device and the EPC9128, consisting of a 16 W, class 3 amplifier and two receiver devices (categories 3 and 4). These systems, coupled with previously announced EPC9120, 33 W class 4 and the EPC9121 multi-mode kit capable of operating to either an AirFuel Class 2 standard with a category 3 device or a Qi (A6)/PMA standard with a compatible receiving device provide a full range of wireless power demonstration kits to allow for complete, wide-spread implementation.

With the introduction of these demonstration kits, EPC covers a wide range of the AirFuel resonant technology standard. The popularity of resonant wireless power transfer is increasing rapidly, with end applications evolving quickly from mere cell phone battery charging, to the powering of large surface areas where handheld tablets, laptops, and computers – and, soon TV sets, lamps, other electrically powered appliances – simultaneously anywhere on the surface.

The purpose of these demonstration kits is to simplify the evaluation process of using eGaN FETs and ICs for highly efficient wireless power transfer. The kits, operating at 6.78 MHz (the lowest ISM band) utilize the high frequency switching capability of EPC gallium nitride transistors to facilitate wireless power systems. The efficiency of these systems is about 87% from input to the amplifier to the output of the receiver (end-to-end), and with future improvements in architecture and GaN IC technology this number can reach into the 95% range.

Demonstration Kits

The EPC9127 wireless power system consists of three boards:

  • A Source Board (Transmitter or Power Amplifier) EPC9510
  • A Class 2 AirFuel Alliance compliant Source Coil (Transmit Coil)
  • A Category 3 AirFuel Alliance compliant Receiving Device EPC9513

The EPC9128 wireless power system consists of four boards:

  • A Source Board (Transmitter or Power Amplifier) EPC9509
  • A Class 3 AirFuel Alliance compliant Source Coil (Transmit Coil)
  • A Category 3 AirFuel Alliance compliant Receiving Device EPC9513
  • A Category 4 AirFuel Alliance compliant Receiving Device EPC9515

Source (Amplifier) and Receiving Device Boards Available Separately

The source (amplifier) boards included in these kits are highly efficient Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS), Class-D amplifiers configured in an optional half-bridge topology (for single-ended configuration) or default full-bridge topology (for differential configuration), and includes the gate driver(s), oscillator, and feedback controller for the pre-regulator. This allows for compliance testing operating to the AirFuel standard over a wide load range. These amplifier boards are available separately as EPC9509 and EPC9510 for evaluation in existing customer systems.

The receiving device boards include the Category 3 EPC9513 (5 V, 5 W) and Category 4 EPC9515 (5 V, 10 W) receiving device boards included in the wireless power demonstration kits are also available separately for customers that have their own source boards or for those who want to design wireless power systems powering multiple devices simultaneously. These boards allow customers to bring various wirelessly powered consumer electronic products quickly to market...

With the wide range of efficient receivers that can be used to power anything from lamps to laptops to tablets, while remaining compatible with cell phone charging, the system designer now has all the tools needed to create an entire wireless power, large area, efficient system.

Price and Availability

The complete range of EPC AirFuel compliant highly resonant demonstration kits now available:

    Device Receive Unit
  EPC9513

Category 3 (6.5 W)

  EPC9515

Category 4 (13 W)

  Category 3 (6.5 W)

Category 4 (13 W)

  Category 3 (6.5 W)

Qi (5 W)

 

Typical Application

smart phone,

Digital Assitant,

any 1 A USB device

tablet,

any 2 A USB device

small form factor

laptop,

19 V lamp

smart phone,

Digital Assitant,

any 1 A USB device

Transmit Unit

(amplifier)

EPC9510

Class 2 (10 W)

EPC9127

Class 2 Demo Kit

     
EPC9509

Class 3 (16 W)

  EPC9128

Class 3 Demo Kit

   
EPC9512

Class 4 (33 W)

    EPC9120

Class 4 Demo Kit

 
EPC9511

Mulit-Mode (10 W)

      EPC9121

Multi-Mode Demo Kit

Price and Availability

EPC9127 and EPC9128 wireless power transfer demonstration systems are priced at $907.20 each.

The EPC9513 and EPC9115 device receive boards can also be purchased separately and are priced at $168.75 each. All EPC products discussed in this document are available for immediate delivery from Digi-Key at http://bit.ly/DigiKey_EPC

About EPC

EPC is the leader in enhancement mode gallium nitride based power management devices. EPC was the first to introduce enhancement-mode gallium-nitride-on-silicon (eGaN) FETs as power MOSFET replacements in applications such as DC-DC converters, wireless power transfer, envelope tracking, RF transmission, solar micro inverters, remote sensing technology (LiDAR), and class-D audio amplifiers with device performance many times greater than the best silicon power MOSFETs.

Visit our web site: www.epc-co.com

eGaN is a registered trademark of Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, Inc.

Contacts

Efficient Power Conversion
Joe Engle, 310.986.0350
joe.engle@epc-co.com

Release Summary

EPC announced two wireless power demonstration kits. EPC now offers a full power range of kits to allow for rapid design of end-use systems

Contacts

Efficient Power Conversion
Joe Engle, 310.986.0350
joe.engle@epc-co.com