Capacitive Power Transfer as Scalable Low-Cost Multi-Load Auxiliary Power Supply for Gate Drivers

Amler A, Best L, März M (2025)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Pages Range: 1-13

DOI: 10.1109/OJPEL.2025.3626899

Abstract

Using operating frequencies in the RF range around the 13.56 MHz ISM band, Capacitive Power Transfer (CPT) can provide sufficient power for a wide range of applications even across coupling capacitances of only a few pF. A low power, multi-load power supply can be realized with simple inductorless capacitive links and rectifiers. Multiple loads connect in parallel to a common primary transmission line, driven by a resonant inverter. This scalable low-cost isolating converter can be used in power electronic converters and inverters to simultaneously supply multiple gate drivers with auxiliary power. However, this application presents some unique challenges – in particular, the extremely low coupling capacitances required to limit common-mode interference – which are investigated in this article. It is shown that gate drivers for GaN eHEMTs can be supplied with 35 mW at 5 V using an effective capacitance of only 0.7 pF, and SiC-MOSFETs and even Si-IGBTs can be driven at frequencies in the 10–100’s kHz range. Burst tests confirm common-mode immunity even under voltage slopes exceeding 400 V/ns between loads and to ground.

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How to cite

APA:

Amler, A., Best, L., & März, M. (2025). Capacitive Power Transfer as Scalable Low-Cost Multi-Load Auxiliary Power Supply for Gate Drivers. IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1109/OJPEL.2025.3626899

MLA:

Amler, Adrian, Lukas Best, and Martin März. "Capacitive Power Transfer as Scalable Low-Cost Multi-Load Auxiliary Power Supply for Gate Drivers." IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics (2025): 1-13.

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