EPRI, DARPA team to fund solid-state research

Palo Alto, Calif.--Seeking "revolutionary rather than evolutionary" technology, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) have solicited and are evaluating innovative research proposals in novel, high-power solidstate electronics devices and integrated circuits.

The joint solicitation was in response to a commercial and military need for switching devices and integrated circuits that can meet highcurrent and high-voltage requirements of power transmission and distribution systems, large AC motors, hybrid and all-electric vehicles, and other modern types of electrical equipment and machinery.

The two organizations are looking to advance technology particularly in the fields of novel highpower device structures, high-power integrated circuits (fabrication processes, design rules, and architectures), and integrated circuit subsystem interaction. Of prime interest are wide-band-gap semiconductors (i.e., SiC, GaN, and CVD diamond). However, innovative ideas in advanced silicon (Si)-based power-device technology using, for example, advanced wafer-scale thermal management, composite Si material, or beam-triggered devices are also attractive, officials said. Consideration of operating temperature and thermal management is vital to the success of any submitted research proposal, they noted.

The program's objectives are specific. Successful research proposals will focus on rapidly revolutionizing the state of the art in high-power electronic technology. Those resulting primarily in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice are excluded.

High-power electronics and integrated circuits are used in various industries to enable precise control, switching, and tuning. Recent years, however, have seen no significant technological advances. New wideband-gap semiconductors and nonsilicon materials need to be developed to make possible devices with greater power-handling density, reduced on- and off-state losses, and improved operational speed.

"High-power electronics research will enable a leap forward toward reduced costs. But, product-driven, modern R&D requires a significant investment. Through cost sharing and teaming we can be more effective and more timely to the marketplace," said Avi Katz, the EPRI power electronics manager who approached DARPA to initiate the idea of a joint effort.

Accepted proposals will be funded by either DARPA or EPRI, jointly by both organizations, or through cost sharing with the proposer, Projects selected for funding will be jointly managed by technical experts from both organizations.

Interested parties can contact, at EPRI, Avishay Katz, power electronics SR&D manager: 415/855-2836; fax: 415/855-2287; e-mail: akatz@epri.com; or, at DARPA, Elliot R Brown, program manager, ETO: 703/696-7436; fax: 703/696-2206; e-mail: erbrown@darpa.mil.

Copyright Instrument Society of America May 1997
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