This user’s guide provides a detailed account of the TPS65912x Evaluation Module (EVM) including a
general overview, schematic diagram, board layout, setup instructions, graphical user interface (GUI) and
bill of materials (BOM). Use this EVM for integrated circuit (IC) evaluation and also for design reference.
The TPS65912x is a power management unit (PMU) for processor power.
How to Use This Manual
This document is formatted in order of operation; become familiar with the schematic and layout before
proceeding to the setup section.
Notational Conventions
•EVM – Evaluation Module
•PMU – Power Management Unit
•IC – Integrated Circuit
•PMIC – Power Management Integrated Circuit
•BOM – Bill of Materials
•PCB – Printed-circuit board
•GUI – Graphical User Interface
Preface
SLVU750A–July 2012–Revised May 2013
TPS65912xEVM-081 User's Guide
Information About Cautions and Warnings
This book may contain cautions and warnings.
Please read this document thoroughly.
Not following this document in detail could potentially damage your software or
equipment.
Please take all possible safety precautions.
Improper use of this evaluation module could potentially cause
physical harm.
The information in a caution or a warning is provided for protection. Please read each caution and warning
carefully.
CAUTION
WARNING
SLVU750A–July 2012–Revised May 2013TPS65912xEVM-081 User's Guide
Refer to the data sheet, SWCS054, for detailed information on the TPS65912x IC features and operating
specifications.
If You Need Assistance
Visit the TI E2E Forums: http://e2e.ti.com
FCC Warning
This equipment is intended for use in a laboratory test environment only. It generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and has not been tested for compliance with the limits of computing
devices pursuant to subpart J of part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to provide reasonable
protection against radio frequency interference. Operation of this equipment in other environments may
cause interference with radio communications, in which case the user, at his/her own expense, is required
to take whatever measures necessary to correct this interference.
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2
TPS65912xEVM-081 User's GuideSLVU750A–July 2012–Revised May 2013
Two external power supplies are required to operate the EVM. One supply must deliver 5 A at 5 V and the
other must deliver 1 A at 1.8 V.
NOTE:I2C™ Bus: A personal computer and USB-TO-GPIO box and cable are required to use the
I2C bus with the GUI.
4.2Jumper Settings
Verify shorting jumpers are installed per Table 1:
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Table 1. Jumper Settings
JumperShunt Location
JP1Between pin1 and pin2
JP2Between pin2 and pin3
JP3Between pin2 and pin3
JP4Between pin2 and pin3
JP5Between pin2 and pin3
JP6Between pin2 and pin3
JP7Between pin2 and pin3
JP8Between pin2 and pin3
JP9Between pin2 and pin3
JP10Between pin2 and pin3
JP11Between pin1 and pin2
4.3Power Supply Connections
Set the 5-V power supply to the off state and connect it to the VBAT input header, J9; positive lead to pin
1 and negative lead to pin 6.
Make sure the 1.8-V power supply is switched off and connect it to the VDDIO input header, J43; positive
lead to pin 1 and negative lead to pin 2.
Switch on the 1.8-V power supply.
Switch on the 5-V power supply.
Neither supply sources more than a few milliamps in this no load condition.
4.4Operation
If the preceding instructions were followed, the EVM is operating under its default conditions. Refer to the
TPS65912x data sheet (SWCS054) for default converter/LDO state and loading conditions.
12
TPS65912xEVM-081SLVU750A–July 2012–Revised May 2013
This section describes basic layout requirements for the TPS65912x.
5.1General Layout
As for all switching power supplies, the layout is an important step in the design. Proper function of the
device demands careful attention to PCB layout. Follow board layout instructions carefully to attain the
specified performance. If the layout is not carefully done, the regulators may show poor line and/or load
regulation and stability issues as well as EMI problems. It is critical to provide a low impedance ground
path. Therefore, use wide and short traces for the main current paths. Place input capacitors as close as
possible to the IC pins as well as the inductor and output capacitor. Keep the common path to the GND
pins, which returns the small signal components, and the high current of the output capacitors as short as
possible to avoid ground noise. Connect the VDCDCx trace right to the output capacitor and routed away
from noisy components and traces (for example, the L1, L2, L3 and L4 traces).
5.2Critical Signals for Layout
As outlined above, a number of signals require careful layout. Item numbers are assigned in Table 2
linking them to the examples in Section 5.3.
Item Signal NameDescriptionLayout Guidelines
1PGND1,Power-ground connection for DCDC1 toConnect to the GND plane. Ideally, route this signal on the
PGND2,DCDC4. This pin is internally tied to thesame layer that the device is placed. Use multiple vias to the
PGND3, PGND4 source of the low side transistor andGND plane if it is on a different layer. As DCDC1 and DCDC4
carries the full output current + inductorare designed (operated) for larger output current, they are
current ripple.more critical than DCDC2 and DCDC3. The GND-terminal of
2VINDCDC1,Input supply to the power stage forConnect to the supply voltage trace. Place an input capacitor
VINDCDC2,VIN DCDC1 to DCDC4. This pin is connected on each of the VINDCDCx pins with low impedance to GND
DCDC3,to the high-side power switch and carriesand low impedance to the VINDCDCx pin. The input capacitor
VINDCDC4the full output current + inductor currentwill have to buffer the input current rising within less than
ripple. As there is only an input current10ns to the average output current (in PWM mode) minus the
when the internal high-side switch isinductor current ripple.
closed, the input current of a step-down
converter is discontinuous. This causes
current spikes on the input and requires
an input capacitor on each of the
VINDCDCx pins.
3VINDCD-ANAAnalog supply input to the DCDC1-to-This pin needs to be powered by the same voltage
DCDC4 converters. It supplies part of the VINDCDC1 to VINDCDC4 are tied to. Its input should be
gate driver and other analog circuitry.properly bypassed with a capacitor and routed to the supply
Layout Considerations
Table 2. Layout Guidelines and Descriptions
the output capacitor requires a low-impedance connection to
the respective PGND pin, as in case where the internal lowside switch is closed, the current flows in the path of output
inductor, output capacitor, PGND pin and L pin. Do not
connect VDCDCx_GND (the GND-SENSE connection for
DCDC1 and DCDC4) directly to the PGND pins. Tie
VDCDCx_GND to the GND-pad of the output capacitor or
directly to the GND plane. Tie AGND directly to the GND
plane. Connect PGND to the GND-plane independently of
other pins, not coupling noise on PGND into other pins.
voltage separately from VINDCDCx in order to avoid noise
generated by the power stages being coupled into
VINDCDC_ANA. Its input current is only a few mA, so the
trace does not have to be very wide.
SLVU750A–July 2012–Revised May 2013TPS65912xEVM-081
4L1, L2, L3, L4These are the connections to the midThe pin carries the output current including inductor current
5VDCDC1,Voltage feedback pins for DCDC1 toThe pins are high impedance (MR) and sensible to noise from
VDCDC2,DCDC4the switch node. The trace should not be routed in parallel to
DCDC3,VDCDCthe L-traces and should be tied to the V+-pad of the output
4capacitor directly.
6VDCDC1_GND, GND-terminal for remote senseThe pins are the GND connections for remote sense and can
VDCDC4_GNDeither be tied to the GND pad of the output capacitor or
7VccAnalog supply voltage pinMust be bypassed with a separate input capacitor, does not
8AGND, DGNDAnalog and digital GND connectionThese GND pins need to be tied to the GND plane. The
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Table 2. Layout Guidelines and Descriptions (continued)
point of the power stage consisting of the ripple. It charges the output capacitor through the high side
high- and low-side switch. The outputswitch and inductor from the input supply and through the
inductor is connected here.inductor and GND while the high side switch is open and low
side switch is closed. As the L pins toggle with the switching
frequency with high slew rates the trace should be routed
apart from sensitive signals such as the feedback connection
to the error amplifier (VDCDCx pins). It is acceptable to
increase the trace length in order to place the input capacitor
close to the device. Having the input capacitor close to
TPS65912x is more critical than having a short connection to
the output inductor as long as the L-trace is shielded to the
feedback trace.
DCDC1 and DCDC4 allow remote sense, so the pin could
alternatively be routed to the input capacitor on the load side.
Coupling from fast switching signals must be avoided.
simply to the GND plane. DO NOT CONNECT TO PGND
PINS DIRECTLY.
carry high currents.
current is quite small but they are the GND connection of the
analog and digital circuitry such as the control loop, so the
connection to a solid GND plane needs to be done without
using long traces- preferably by a via to the GND plane.
14
TPS65912xEVM-081SLVU750A–July 2012–Revised May 2013
The provided GUI facilitates PC to IC communication though the I2C bus using the USB-TO-GPIO box and
USB cable. Please refer to USB Interface Adapter Evaluation Module User's Guide, SLLU093, for detailed
operating instructions of the USB-TO-GPIO interface. Connect the 10-pin ribbon cable to J60 of the EVM.
Connect the USB cable of the USB-TO-GPIO to the PC. An overview of the GUI is shown in Figure 18.
Graphical User Interface
Figure 18. Graphical User Interface Screen Shot
SLVU750A–July 2012–Revised May 2013TPS65912xEVM-081
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