A Novel Compact 200MHz GaN DC/DC Converter Module for Highly-Efficient PoL Supply

This paper presents a novel compact and highly-efficient GaN-based DC/DC converter module for 200 MHz switching frequency to supply point-of-loads (PoL) in data centers. By applying a distributed, integrated bypass capacitor into the power-stage, using high- and low-side push-pull and bootstrap drivers and an auxiliary transistor for the positive supply rail of the high-side driver as well as a freewheeling GaN Schottky barrier diode (SBD) at low output power, the proposed converter significantly reduces energy consumption of the drivers and increases the power conversion efficiencies of power-stage (ηps) and complete converter (ηtotal). The proposed Very High Frequency (VHF) converter achieves a maximum ηps of 84% and ηtotal of 80% for 25.4 W conversion from 32 V DC input voltage (Vdc_in) to 12.7 DC output voltage (Vout).