At PCIM Europe 2026, onsemi demonstrated Elite Pairing Studio, a new simulation tool designed to help engineers compare different gate driver and power switch combinations before moving further into the design process.
The tool was shown at the onsemi stand by Didier Balocco, Technical Marketing Engineer at onsemi, who explained that selecting the switching device is often only one part of the problem. For many engineers working with silicon carbide and GaN devices, the more difficult question is how that device should be driven.
Modern power switches can offer high efficiency, fast switching and strong power density, but those advantages depend heavily on the gate driver, PCB layout and switching behaviour around the device. A poor driver choice may still allow the circuit to operate, but it can affect efficiency, EMI, switching losses and overall system behaviour.
Why the Gate Driver Matters
Balocco described the challenge as a missing part of the usual design flow. Engineers may know the voltage, current and power level they need, making it relatively clear which MOSFET, SiC MOSFET or GaN device to consider. After that, the gate driver decision becomes less obvious. This is especially true when the design target is not simply maximum efficiency.
In one system, the engineer may want the highest efficiency possible. In another, the priority may be lower EMI. In a cost-sensitive design, the best option may be the driver that gives acceptable performance at the lowest system cost.
That is where Elite Pairing Studio is intended to fit. The software takes a selected onsemi power switch and analyses compatible gate driver options within the onsemi portfolio. It then presents data for each pairing, allowing engineers to compare the trade-offs before choosing which route to follow.
Comparing Efficiency, EMI and Cost
One of the points raised during the demonstration was that there is no universal “best” pairing. With SiC and GaN devices, the fastest or most efficient switching behaviour may not always be the most suitable answer. Higher switching speeds can help reduce losses, but they can also make EMI more difficult to manage. In some applications, particularly dense power systems or AI-related hardware, noise behaviour may become just as important as efficiency.
Balocco compared the process to selecting tyres for a race car. The car may be capable of very high performance, but the tyre choice still depends on the track conditions. In the same way, the switching device may be capable of excellent performance, but the gate driver has to match the design conditions.
For engineers, that means the software is not just a selector table. It is a way to see how different pairings behave against different design priorities.
How Elite Pairing Studio Works
Elite Pairing Studio uses a combination of simulation data, gate driver parameters and calculation models. The first stage compares available driver and switch combinations. Once the engineer selects a pairing, the tool can simulate that specific combination and generate switching waveforms.
onsemi also plans to add further analysis features in future versions, including FFT support for looking more closely at EMI-related behaviour.
The tool can also export a PLECS model, which can then be used inside onsemi’s Elite Power Simulator. This allows the selected switch and gate driver pairing to be carried into a wider system-level simulation, rather than stopping at the component comparison stage.
Available Through onsemi
Elite Pairing Studio was released in its initial public version at PCIM Europe 2026. According to Balocco, the tool is already functional and available for engineers to use through onsemi’s website.
Engineers can access it through the design section of onsemi.com by selecting Elite Pairing Studio. A my onsemi account is required to enter the tool and access the supporting user guide and application notes.
For power electronics engineers working with SiC, GaN or high-performance MOSFET designs, the tool addresses a practical part of the design process that is often harder than it first appears. The switch may define the headline performance of the system, but the driver often decides how much of that performance can be used in the final design.
Watch the full interview above to see Didier Balocco explain Elite Pairing Studio at PCIM Europe 2026.
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