Is there GaN and MOSFET compatible reference design for motor control?

Ssu-Han,

"Unlike silicon MOSFETs, gallium nitride (GaN)-based FETs operate much faster with lower gate threshold voltages. In addition, internal-gate resistance for GaN FETs is much lower and the body diode reverse recovery characteristics are far superior (G_RR is zero)." https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/selecting-gate-driver-ics-for-gallium-nitride-fets

For a motor drive application, the output is connected to the motor winding which has a high inductance. In general, the PWM frequency is not very high, plus, some devices can adjust the switching speed to reduce the EMI noise. For a low voltage brushed DC motor and stepper motor, I don't see any benefit to switch to GaN devices.

Please provide more info to get support, such as: what is the maximum load current? What is the min/max input voltage? What is the application and end product?

And then, I can move this post to BLDC motor driver support to see if they have any IC to support high voltage and high speed GaN device.

Hi Wang,

I focus on motor control product such as vacuum, ESC or compressor for years. There are many reasons  I want to try the latest technology now. 

There are plenty of small inductance PMSM motors right now and we are also curious about the control improvement with GaN.

The other reason is that we want to reduce dead time in some application.

Now I am planning a new development board, it is designed with MOS originally however I want to know if it is suitable for GaN if only replacement part of some components.

Or, you know, I can place the GaN on the bottom PCB....

Please help us find the right solution.

Maxwell Huang

Maxwell,

Right now, I cannot list the differences between GaN driver and MosFET driver. Would you help me list the differences? I would think TI gate driver product line and support may have the answer.