State-of-the-Art GaN Power IC-based 150 W AC-DC Adapter

Since bulky, heavy, low-efficiency linear converters gave way to Si MOSFET-based SMPS chargers in the late 1970's / early 1980's, external adapter design has plateaued, with only incremental improvements in efficiency and power density. However, with the recent introduction of new higher-frequency topologies, wide-bandgap powertrain technologies and new magnetic materials and transformer designs, new benchmarks in efficiency and power density are being achieved in adapters from 25 W to 200 W. This paper provides a detailed analysis of a 150 W AC-DC adapter using CrCM PFC and LLC control with monolithically-integrated gate-drive GaN powertrain. The prototype achieves a 100 % density increase vs. typical adapters and a 33 % increase vs. today's best-in-class design.