Renesas’s new GaN charging solution delivers 500W of power
Renesas has expanded its suite of AC/DC and power adapter solutions with a new GaN-based Half-Wave LLC (HWLLC) platform that supports 500W or higher operation across IoT, industrial and infrastructure systems. The new HWLLC converter topology scales an ultra-efficient, compact power architecture from 100W-class designs to 500W, enabling the next wave of high-speed chargers for power tools, e-bikes and other appliances without the size, heat and efficiency penalties of legacy topologies.
The portfolio expansion adds four controller ICs that build on Renesas’ proprietary zero-standby power (ZSP) technology. At the heart is the RRW11011, an interleaved power factor correction (PFC) and HWLLC combo controller engineered for high power density and high efficiency. The PFC with phase-shift control cancels ripple, reduces component size and cost, balances current and ensures robustness. The combo controller allows designers to lower operating temperature while delivering the wide output range (5V to 48V) required by USB Extended Power Range (EPR) and other variable-load charging systems. The new solution also features the RRW30120 USB Power Delivery (USB PD) protocol and closed-loop controller, which achieves maximum USB power delivery of 240W, and the RRW40120 half-bridge GaN gate driver and RRW43110 intelligent synchronous rectifier controller.
The HWLLC’s wide 500W power envelope broadens the addressable charging market to encompass large TVs and monitors, as well as higher-power appliances like vacuums, power tools, outdoor and industrial lighting and some medical devices. The new HWLLC-based AC/DC topology also helps designers move beyond 100W USB-C charging devices and adopt 240W USB EPR charging to shrink proprietary brick chargers in smartphones, laptops and many gaming systems. Renesas’ compact, high-power fast charging technology was recently incorporated into a GaN-based charger from Belkin. The Belkin Z-Charger features an innovative ZSP chip with Renesas’ advanced SuperGaN depletion mode (d-mode) GaN technology.
GaN technology drives the efficiency and power density behind Renesas’ next-generation AC/DC designs, enabling higher switching performance that helps shrink magnetics, reduce losses and keep thermals in check. Renesas’ SuperGaN d-mode technology employs a cascode configuration that is more robust and easier to drive than other GaN implementations, with a higher threshold voltage and drop-in compatibility with standard silicon gate drivers. The result is a faster path for customers to achieve compact, high-efficiency power supplies they can scale, validate and manufacture with greater confidence.
By eliminating transformer winding and reducing component count versus traditional LLC implementations, Renesas reduces design complexity and enables more compact magnetics. The enhancement accelerates design re-use across product families that support different wattages, voltages and form-factors while improving reliability and easing BOM management. The highly integrated, wide Vin/Vout offline solution helps customers build smaller, cooler and readily compliant products while achieving standout no-load/standby performance that supports higher energy-efficiency ratings.
