Navitas Semiconductor announced what they say is the world’s smallest 65W USB-PD (Type C) adapter reference design, to keep pace with the dramatic size and weight reductions in laptop designs over the last 10 years.

High-frequency, high-efficiency AllGaN Power ICs are used to deliver 65W in only 45cc / 2.7in³ and only 60g in weight by minimizing the size, weight and cost of transformers, filters and heatsinks.  By contract, existing silicon-based designs can require 6-7in³ and weigh over 300g.

“Finally, a laptop adapter is thin and light – like the laptop it charges – and at a great price”, said Stephen Oliver, the company’s vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Power designers have been faced with several, conflicting industry challenges, from new USB Type C connectivity and USB PD (Power Delivery) output compliance to statutory energy efficiency standards and the ever-present issue of cost. Navitas GaN Power ICs deliver the simultaneous achievements of high-speed operation and high efficiency to enable a single system design that meets all of those challenges – at the same or lower cost than old, slow silicon designs”.

The new NVE028A reference design uses GaN Power ICs in an in an active clamp flyback (ACF) topology running 3x-4x faster and with 40% lower loss than typical adapter designs, to deliver smaller size and reduced costs. The design is fully compliant with European CoC Tier 2 and US DoE Level VI efficiency standards, in addition to reaching peak efficiencies of over 94% at full load.

Unlike earlier attempts at high-density adapters, the NVE028A achieves small size (51 x 43 x 20.5 mm cased) and breakthrough power density (1.5 W/cc, 24 W/in³ cased) using simple, standard, low-cost manufacturing techniques.

“Since we introduced the AllGaN platform at APEC’16, Navitas has announced single and half-bridge GaN Power ICs, the world’s smallest 150W adapter, and now the world’s smallest, fully-compliant 65W USB-PD design”, said Gene Sheridan, Navitas CEO. “This is the flexible, high-performance, cost-effective platform that meets and exceeds the targets of the mobile and consumer charger markets”.

For more information about the 65W NVE027A reference design, contact info@navitassemi.com.