GaN Powers Up in AI, Robotics, and Our Lives
Alex Lidow , CEO of EPC - Efficient Power Conversion , describes his journey in the semiconductor industry, his family’s legacy, and groundbreaking innovations in gallium nitride technology.
In this fascinating interview, Alex Lidow discusses his early exposure to semiconductors through his father and grandfather, who founded International Rectifier. Initially pursuing aeronautical engineering at Caltech , he shifted to solid-state physics, igniting a lifelong career. He shares his role in developing HexFETs, a groundbreaking transistor technology, highlighting the creativity and persistence required for innovation.
After being unexpectedly dismissed from International Rectifier, Alex founded EPC to focus on GaN technology. He details GaN’s superior properties, such as high efficiency and robustness, which make it a transformative alternative to silicon in power devices.
Despite early struggles with manufacturing yields, persistence led to breakthroughs that enabled GaN’s application in LiDAR, space electronics, and fast chargers. Alex reflects on how mistakes foster breakthroughs and stresses the importance of education to help engineers adopt GaN technology.
Looking ahead, Alex expresses excitement about emerging applications, such as humanoid robots, where GaN’s integration in motors, AI, and LiDAR could revolutionize industries. His advice to aspiring innovators is to embrace challenges and persist through the highs and lows of invention.
Meet Alex Lidow
Dr. Alex Lidow is the third generation in a family tree of influential leaders in the power electronics industry. Lidow began his career as an R&D engineer at International Rectifier—the company founded and led by his father and grandfather.?While at International Rectifier, Lidow was the co-inventor of the HEXFET power MOSFET, a power transistor alternative to the bipolar transistor. During his 30 years with International Rectifier, he held multiple roles, including oversight of R&D, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. He was the company CEO during his last 12 years.
Dr. Lidow holds many patents for power silicon MOSFET and GaN FET technologies. Alex is the co-author of the seminal textbook, GaN Transistors for Efficient Power Conversion, which is now in its fourth edition.
Dr. Lidow earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics from Caltech and a doctorate in Applied Physics from 美国斯坦福大学 . In 2024, Dr. Lidlow was elected to the International Symposium on Power Semiconductor Devices and ICs Hall of Fame for his contributions to silicon and GaN power device technology.
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