Master GaN FET Gate Driver IC Design

Meet Your Instructor

Jimrod Norman S. Olac is the Founder of CktGenius and an Analog & Power Management IC Design Engineer specializing in GaN gate drivers for electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. Through CktGenius, he focuses on bridging the gap between academic theory and industry-proven, silicon-validated design practices in modern power electronics. Jimrod previously served as a Senior Analog/Power Management IC Design Engineer at MediaTek Singapore, where he worked on mass-production IPs implemented on advanced process nodes, including TSMC 22nm and Intel 16nm FinFET. His responsibilities covered the full design cycle of critical power-management blocks such as bandgap references, LDOs, power stages, level shifters, and gate drivers—designed with production constraints, yield, and reliability in mind. He holds a Master’s degree in Electronics Engineering from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NCTU), Taiwan, where he executed two end-to-end IC tapeouts. His master’s research focused on a high-frequency GaN gate driver IC for EV and renewable energy applications, designed and taped out using a BCD / high-voltage process, covering specification definition, circuit design, layout, verification, and silicon readiness. Across both industry and academia, Jimrod has led designs from concept to tapeout, combining advanced-node CMOS experience with high-voltage BCD processes—an uncommon but critical skill set for modern GaN-based power systems. This course reflects that perspective, delivering practical insights drawn from real tapeouts, real silicon, and real production challenges.