ST's new chip ST-ONE pairs with GaN FET to save power

STMicroelectronics' new chip, called ST-ONE pairs with ST’s MasterGaN power output modules based on advanced gallium-nitride (GaN) semiconductor technology to increase energy efficiency in a wide range of ac-dc power supply adapters, fully compliant with USB-PD 3.1, including laptop and smartphone chargers and make them smaller in size. “If every power adapter achieved at least 1% higher efficiency, which is possible using the ST-ONE energy-recovery circuit design, the world could save about 93 terawatt-hours of energy, equivalent to the output of 15 nuclear plants,” commented Domenico Arrigo, Industrial and Power Conversion Division General Manager, STMicroelectronics. “In addition, if one billion chargers worldwide were to use our technology, 0.2 million tons of plastics and raw materials could be saved.” ST says the reduction in consumption of materials such as plastics is achieved with the increase in so-called power density that enables smaller components to manage a larger power delivery. A high power density also cuts down recycling and environmental costs. ST’s reference design, EVLONE65W, enables a 65-Watt USB-C adapter of the same size and weight (less than 70g in a 37cm3) of a standard 20-Watt smartphone charger to handle the demands of charging a laptop. This unit achieves the world’s highest power density, packing more than 1.8 Watts of power per cubic cen...