Michael Bosch

Abstract

In this work a highly-integrated, 24 V input, dual-output (5 to 1SV up to 1A and −1.3V up to 100mA), low-noise GaN-based DC/DC supply for the gate and drain bias of a GaN solid state power amplifier for E- and W-band applications in space ór phased-array applications is presented. By using two fast-switching GaN half-bridges as the main element of two highly-integrated DC/DC converters for gate and drain bias supply, $\approx$50% higher efficiency and an adjustable drain voltage (e.g. for orbital tracking) can be achieved compared to state-of-the-art solutions (LDOs only). The required drain supply of the GaN SSPA (5 to 18 V with currents up to 1 A) is generated by a 70 m$Ømega$, 100V monolithic GaN half-bridge based buck-converter switching at 3.1 MHz with high gate-resistors $(62Ømega/10Ømega)$, extended filtering (resulting in an ac voltage noise of below 5 mV RMS for most bias points) and efficiencies above 80% for the whole output current range. The gate supply $(-1.3V,\ 100mA)$ is provided by a multi-stage approach to achieve efficient conversion and low noise: In the first stage the battery voltage is down converted to 5 V in a 3.1 MHz buck-converter $(\eta90\ \%)$ with two 3.3 $Ømega, 65V GaN$ transistors, to optimize the efficiency of the second stage. The second stage (switched capacitor, 2 MHz circuit, $\eta\geq$ 80%) converts the voltage to −2 V. A final LDO stage converts the −5V to −1.3 V with $0.8 V$ RMS-noise, to avoid instabilities of the SSPA due to gate bias oscillations. The converter is not actively cooled and does not exceed a local hotspot temperature of 85 °C at any operation point.

Abstract

Emerging electromobility requires a comprehensive simulation environment of the inverter and motor stage to ensure their performance and efficiency. Digital prototypes are critical to shortening development time and reducing costs by providing realistic test scenarios for such systems. The WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure) is often not simulated but plays an important role, as this cycle reflects real driving conditions and thus enables an accurate assessment of the performance of electric vehicles. This work examines the role of digital prototypes in the context of e-mobility and focuses on the importance of WLTP cycle simulations for application-oriented testing. Furthermore, the focus is on the development of low-voltage inverters based on GaN-HEMT’s and the performance of detailed simulations using Spice, which allows a reasonable tradeoff between physical details and simulation time. The electro-mechanical behavior of a BLDC motor operated at various switching frequencies up to 150 kHz is simulatively compared to real measurement data. Then, the standardized motor test cycle WLTC is simulated to estimate the power consumption in driving cycles. This simulation environment enables sweeping various parameters like switching frequencies and commutation schemes e.g. trapezoidal or sinusoidal. Higher switching frequencies promise a combined efficiency increase of approx. 8 % of the electro-mechanical sub-system in this application-oriented test cycle. This work serves as a basis for new rapid prototyping for small electric vehicles, which can easily be adapted for e.g. 800 V, high-power automotive inverters.