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Application Note 1507
Author: Marty Pandola
ZL6100EVAL2Z Dual Channel Evaluation Board
Description
The ZL6100 is an integrated mixed-signal power
conversion and management IC that combines an
efficient step-down DC/DC converter with key power and
thermal management functions in a single package. The
ZL6100 incorporates current sharing and adaptive
efficiency-optimization algorithms to provide a flexible,
efficient power IC building block.
The ZL6100EVAL2Z platform is a 6-layer board with two
power rails. One rail is a single phase, 30A power rail.
The other rail is a dual phase, 60A power rail
demonstrating the current sharing capability of the
ZL6100.
A USB to SMBus adapter board can be used to connect
the eval board to a PC. The PMBus command set is
accessed by using the Zilker Labs PowerNavigator™
evaluation software from a PC running Microsoft
Windows.
Features
• 30A Single-phase and 60A Dual-phase Rails
• Optimized for Efficiency
• Configurable Through SMBus
• Onboard Enable Switch
• Power Good Indicators
Target Specifications
•V
= 12V
IN
•V
•V
•f
• Efficiency: 90% at 50% load
• Output Ripple: ±1.5%
• Dynamic response: ±3%
(50%-70%-50% load step, di/dt = 2.5A/µs)
• Board Temperature: +25°C
= 1.8V/60A max
OUT1
= 1.5V/30A max
OUT2
= 300kHz
sw
SYNC
DDC
SMBus
TRACK
V
P3
IN
ENABLE
SW1
J10
FIGURE 1. ZL6100EVAL2Z BLOCK DIAGRAM
EN
SYNC
ZL6100
SMBus
DDC
EN
SYNC
ZL6100
SMBus
DDC
EN
SYNC
ZL6100
SMBus
DDC
J11
P1
P2
SYNC
DDC
SMBus
PGVTRK PG
V
OUT2
V
OUT1
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CAUTION: These devices are sensitive to electrostatic discharge; follow proper IC Handling Procedures.
1-888-INTERSIL or 1-888-468-3774
| Intersil (and design) is a registered trademark of Intersil Americas Inc.
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Copyright Intersil Americas Inc. 2009. All Rights Reserved
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Application Note 1507
Functional Description
The ZL6100EVAL2Z provides all circuitry required to
demonstrate the features of the ZL6100. The
ZL6100EVAL2Z has a functionally-optimized ZL6100
circuit layout that allows efficient operation up to the
maximum output current. Power and load connections
are provided through plug-in sockets.
All features of the ZL6100 such as current sharing, softstart delay and ramp times, supply sequencing, voltage
tracking, and voltage margining are available on this
evaluation board. For voltage tr acking, the board is set
up for the single phase rail (V
phase rail (V
for configuring the board for other tracking combinations.
Figure 1 shows a functional block diagram of the
ZL6100EVAL2Z board. The SMBus address is selectable
through a jumper on the top side of the board. All power
to the board (VIN and I2C bus) must be removed before
changing the jumpers.
The hardware enable function is controlled by a toggle
switch on the ZL6100EVAL2Z board. The power good
(PG) LEDs indicate the correct state of PG when external
power is applied to the ZL6100EVAL2Z board. (Note: If a
USB board is connected to the ZL6100EVAL2Z and no
power is applied to the board, the PG LEDs will turn on
even though the power rails are not enabled.) The right
angle headers at opposite ends of the board are for
connecting a USB to SMBus adapter board or for daisy
chaining of multiple evaluation boards.
Figures 2 and 3 show the two phases of the 60A circuit.
Figure 4 shows the single phase operational circuit. The
circuit consists of the ZL6100 IC with its minimal
component count to realize a 30A buck converter. The
board layout has been optimized for thermal
performance.
Figure 5 is the Interface and Figure 9 SMBus address
selection circuitry .
). Contact the Zilker Labs sales office
OUT1
) to track the dual
OUT2
Operation
been pre-configured as described in this document, but
the user may modify the operating parameters through
the eval software or by loading a predefined scenario
from a configuration file.
Use the mouse-over pop-ups for PowerNavigator help.
™
Refer to Zilker Labs application note AN2033 “PMBus
Command Set DDC Products”, Intersil Corporation,
2009 for PMBus details.
The ENABLE switch can then be moved to “ENABLE” and
the ZL6100EVAL2Z board can be tested. Alternately , the
PMBus ON-OFF CONFIG and OPERATION commands may
be used.
Quick Start Guide
Stand Alone Operation
1. Set ENABLE switch to “DISABLE”
2. Apply load to VOUT+/VOUT- for each channel
3. Connect power supply to VIN+/VIN- (supply turned
off)
4. Turn power supply on
5. Set ENABLE switch to “ENABLE”
6. Monitor ZL6100EVAL2Z board operation using an
oscilloscope
USB (PMBus) Operation
1. Set ENABLE switch to “DISABLE”
2. Apply load to VOUT+/VOUT- for each channel
3. Connect power supply to VIN+/VIN- (supply turned
off)
4. Turn power supply on
5. Insert the Zilker Labs Eval Kit CD
6. Connect USB to SMBus adapter board to J10 of
ZL6100EVAL2Z
7. Connect supplied USB cable from computer to USB
to SMBus adapter board
a) Upon first-time connection, the Found New
Hardware Wizard will appear.
PMBus Operation
The ZL6100 utilizes the PMBus protocol. The PMBus
functionality can be controlled via USB from a PC running
the PowerNavigator evaluation software in a Windows XP
or Windows 2000/NT operating system.
Install the ZL6100EV AL2Z softw are u sing the CD
included in the ZL6100EVAL2Z kit.
For board operation, connect the included USB-to-SMBus
adapter board to J10 of the ZL6100EVAL2Z board.
Connect the desired load and an appropriate power
supply to the input and connect the included USB cable
to the PC running the PowerNavigator evaluation
software. Place the ENABLE switch in “DISABLE” and turn
on the power.
The evaluation software allows modification of all ZL6100
PMBus parameters. Each of the ZL6100 devices have
2
b) Windows XP users: Select ‘No’ at prompt to
search the Internet for drivers.
c) Follow the steps on the screen to install the
drivers from the CD.
8. Install the PowerNavigator evaluation software by
running setup.exe from the
PowerNavigator_installer folder on the CD.
9. Set ENABLE switch on EVB to “ENABLE”
10.Monitor and configure the ZL6100EVAL2Z board
using PMBus commands in the evaluation software
11.Test the ZL6100EVAL2Z operation using an
oscilloscope and the evaluation software.
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Board Schematics
FIGURE 2. ZL6100EVAL2Z 60A CURRENT SHARING RA IL (PHASE A) CIRCUIT
Application Note 1507
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FIGURE 3. ZL6100EVAL2Z 60A CURRENT SHARING RAIL (PHASE B) CIRCUIT
Board Schematics (Continued)
Application Note 1507
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FIGURE 4. ZL6100EVAL2Z 30A SINGLE PHASE RAIL CIRCUIT
Board Schematics (Continued)
Application Note 1507
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FIGURE 5. ZL6100EVAL2Z INTERFACE CIRCUITRY
Board Schematics (Continued)
Application Note 1507
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FIGURE 6. POWER-IN CIRCUIT
Board Schematics (Continued)
Application Note 1507
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FIGURE 7. PG LED CIRCUITRY
Board Schematics (Continued)
Application Note 1507
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FIGURE 8. ENABLE SWITCH DEBOUNCE CIRCUIT
FIGURE 9. ADDRESS SELECTION CIRCUITRY
Board Schematics (Continued)
Application Note 1507
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Board Layout – 6 Layers
Application Note 1507
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FIGURE 10. PCB – TOP LAYER
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