Resource Center

We’ve assembled a library of tools and resources for your reference.

Our podcast features Spirit CEO Marti McCurdy and industry leaders.

Hi Performance Oscillators

Marti and Ben discuss issues related to testing hi spec oscillators in real world applications

GPS Applications for Rakon Oscillators

Marti and Ben discuss issues faced when designing oscillators for GPS positioning applications

Rakon Part 1

Marti McCurdy chats with Ben Reardon in a 4-part series highlighting Rakon’s product range with emphasis on aerospace applications

EPC – The Power of GaN

Spirit’s Marti McCurdy and EPC’s CEO Alex Lidow discuss the performance and cost benefits of gallium nitride over silicon.

Characterization of Wide Bandgap Power Semiconductor Devices

by Fei Wang; Zheyu Zhang; Edward A. Jones

Based on the authors’ years of extensive experience, this is an authoritative overview of Wide Bandgap (WBG) device characterization. It provides essential tools to assist researchers, advanced students and practicing engineers in performing both static and dynamic characterization of WBG devices, particularly those based on using silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors. The book presents practical considerations for real applications, and includes examples of applying the described methodology.

Wireless Power Handbook

by Michael A. de Rooij

This second edition handbook comes less than a year following the release of the first edition – this is the pace at which the understanding and application of wireless power transfer is moving. “Cut the cord” is the battle cry – and now that we know it can be done, what’s holding us back, let’s pick up speed and get on with it!

The scope of this second edition has expanded to include the latest work on AirFuel Alliance class 2 and class 3 transmitters, adaptive tuning, radiated EMI, multi-mode wireless power systems, and control strategies. There are also systems demonstrated using the latest in eGaN FETs and integrated circuits that set new efficiency benchmarks as well as reduce system costs.

DC-DC Converter Handbook

by David Reusch & John Glaser

A Supplement to GaN Transistors for Efficient Power Conversion

Demand for information is growing at unprecedented rates and society’s insatiable appetite for communication, computing and downloading, is putting ever-increasing demands for improved efficiencies and performance on data centers.

Our first challenge – how will power conversion systems continue to improve in order to keep pace with the rapid improvements in computing power and the need for efficient data centers…

The second focus – to create power conversion solutions using GaN devices and making performance comparisons with silicon power transistors traditionally used in power conversion systems…

And, finally – to propose, create, and test a new power delivery architecture taking advantage of the superior performance attributes of GaN.

GaN Transistors for Efficient Power Conversion

by Alex Lidow, Johan Strydom, Michael de Rooij, David Reusch

This textbook provides power system design engineers basic technical and application-focused information on how to design more efficient power conversion systems using gallium nitride-based transistors.

Application Notes

White Papers

End of Road for Silicon in Power Conversion?

Power management efficiency and cost have shown steady improvement as innovations in power MOSFET technology have paced the growing need for electrical power. However, the rate of improvement has slowed as the silicon power MOSFET has approached its theoretical bounds.

98% Efficiency in Resonant Converter Using eGaN FETs

Rapid expansion of the computing and telecommunication market is demanding an ever more compact, efficient and high power density solution for intermediate bus converters. The LLC resonant converter provides a high power density and high efficiency solution.

The First Adaptive Compute Acceleration Platform

Recent technical challenges have forced the industry to explore options beyond the conventional “one size fits all” CPU scalar processing solution. The solution combines three elements with a new tool flow that offers different abstractions into an adaptive compute acceleration platform (ACAP).

Xilinx AI Engines and Their Applications

5G requires between five to 10 times higher compute density when compared with prior generations; AI Engines have been optimized for DSP, meeting both the throughput and compute requirements to deliver the high bandwidth and accelerated speed required for wireless connectivity.

Radar Subsystem Upgrades

Air Navigation Services Providers (ANSP) worldwide face difficult technical and budgetary decisions: whether to upgrade or replace their radar systems with analog or digital technology.

Ultra Stable Quartz Crystal Oscillator for Space Applications

In 2009, further research went into improving the thermal sensitivity of RAKON's space quartz crystal Ultra Stable Oscillator (USO)

Improve DC-DC Forward Converter

DC-DC converter designers can achieve higher power density at lower power levels by using forward converters with synchronous rectification and gallium nitride transistors. One very typical application is a 26W, 48V to 5V , Power over Ethernet Powered Device (PoE-PD).

eGAN® FETs Deliver the Performance of GaN at the Price of Silicon

The designers of the earliest applications were driven to GaN based on the faster speeds that could be achieved when switching power. Faster switching can translate into smaller size, higher efficiency, and lower system cost.

UltraFast Design Methodology Guide

Vivado Design Suite

The High-Level Productivity Design Methodology traverses the same basic steps as a more traditional RTL methodology. However, it allows designers to spend more time designing value-add solutions.

UltraFast High-Level Productivity Design Methodology Guide

Xilinx® programmable devices have capacities of multi-million Logic Cells (LC) and integrate an increasing share of today’s complex electronic systems. This High-Level Productivity Design Methodology provides a set of best practices to create such complex systems within short design cycles.

Fully Integrated Signal and Power Isoation

Applications and Benefits

To be truly useful, an integrated power and signal isolation solution must offer high efficiency, high power delivery and low emissions while offering high isolation performance.

Understanding Failure Modes in Isolators

Analyzing how isolators fail under high voltage, high current stress fault conditions is important in order to determine if additional measures are required to prevent an electrical hazard.

New Space Solutions

A major trend in the New Space sector is the Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) approach, in which satellite manufacturers use standard commercial products in order to fly them directly in space or in order to upscreen them for spaceflight.