Infineon DEMO_AC_ZVS_HVBDS Evaluation Board

Introduction

The Infineon DEMO_AC_ZVS_HVBDS is an evaluation board designed to demonstrate AC soft-switching performance using Infineon CoolGaN™ 650 V G5 bidirectional switches. It provides a practical platform for exploring high-efficiency AC power-conversion techniques under typical 50 Hz and 60 Hz grid conditions.

Part Description

The DEMO_AC_ZVS_HVBDS evaluation board showcases zero-voltage switching (ZVS) operation for high-voltage bidirectional GaN power devices. Its design supports symmetrical triangular current mode operation, helping demonstrate how soft switching can reduce switching losses and improve efficiency in AC power stages.

The board uses a loadless test setup, allowing engineers to study switching behavior without requiring a full application load. It also uses a simple open-loop control approach, making it useful for evaluating basic operating principles, waveform behavior, and soft-switching performance.

Key characteristics include:

• Evaluation platform for Infineon CoolGaN 650 V G5 bidirectional switches
• Demonstrates AC zero-voltage switching capability
• Supports symmetrical triangular current mode operation
• Intended for typical 50 Hz and 60 Hz AC-grid environments
• Loadless test arrangement for simplified laboratory evaluation
• Simple open-loop control implementation
• Optimized for examining soft-switching operation in high-voltage AC designs

Applications

Potential applications for the DEMO_AC_ZVS_HVBDS include:

• Grid-connected string inverters
• Solar microinverters
• Bidirectional AC switching stages
• Motor-control power converters
• Server power supplies
• High-efficiency AC/DC and DC/AC converter research
• Solid-state switching demonstrations
• Grid-interface power-stage development
• Advanced GaN power-device characterization

Industries

This evaluation board can be relevant to several industries, including:

• Renewable energy and solar power
• Industrial automation
• Motor-drive manufacturing
• Data centers and cloud infrastructure
• Telecommunications power systems
• Power-electronics research and development
• Smart-grid equipment
• Energy storage systems
• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure

Usage Ideas

1. AC Soft-Switching Waveform Study
   Use the board with appropriate laboratory instrumentation to observe voltage and current waveforms during zero-voltage switching operation.

2. Grid-Frequency GaN Evaluation
   Evaluate the behavior of 650 V bidirectional CoolGaN switches in a 50 Hz or 60 Hz AC-oriented test environment.

3. Inverter Topology Research Platform
   Use the board as a reference for developing soft-switched stages in a future solar inverter, motor drive, or server power-conversion design.

Conclusion

The Infineon DEMO_AC_ZVS_HVBDS Evaluation Board is a focused development platform for investigating AC soft-switching with 650 V CoolGaN G5 bidirectional switches. With its triangular current mode operation, open-loop control, and loadless test configuration, it can help engineers explore efficient high-voltage AC power-conversion concepts for renewable energy, industrial, and data-center applications.