This 600V gallium nitride (GaN) half-bridge evaluation board enables easy, rapid setup and test of CoolGaN™ transistors. The generic topology can be configured for boost or buck operation, pulse testing or continuous full-power operation. Test points provide easy access to connect signals to an oscilloscope, to measure the switching performance of CoolGaN™ transistors and gate driver. This board saves the user from having to design their own gate driver and power circuit to evaluate gallium nitride transistors.

The half-bridge circuit board features a single PWM input intended for connection of a 50Ω pulse generator. The board is powered from a single 5V supply input, which powers everything including the isolated gate driver power supplies. Deadtime between the high and low-side is initially set to 100ns, but is trimpot adjustable. An external inductor can be connected using the supplied pluggable connector. The output and bus voltage can range up to 450V, limited by the capacitor rating. This half-bridge can switch continuous currents of 12A, and peak currents of 35A, hard or soft-switching. Operating frequency can be up to several MHz, depending on transistor dissipation (limited to about 15W per device with appropriate heatsink and airflow).