Note: Acutal evaluation board appearance may vary slightly depending on product ordered
Introduction
This customer evaluation board is designed for the PI352x family of 10 x 14 ZVS Bucks. It
can be configured to demonstrate a single product in a stand-alone local sense or a remote
sense configuration.
The PI352x family of wide input range DC-DC ZVS-Buck regulators feature high efficiency with
integrated controller, power switches, and support components all within a high density 0.4” x
0.55” System-in-Package (SiP). Required components are placed inside a demarcation featuring a
solution size of 7.3” x 1.74”. The demarcation includes an external inductor, compensation capacitor,
voltage selection resistors, soft-start capacitor, and input-output capacitors to form a complete
DC-DC regulator.
Be sure to read the precautions below entirely BEFORE using the Evaluation Board. Do not operate the
evaluation board unless you have the appropriate safety precautions in place on your bench to ensure a
successful experience.
The list below is not comprehensive and is not a substitute for common sense and good practice.
Refer to the specific regulator module data sheet for electrical rating of the device, thermal and
mechanical product details. It is important to remain within the device rated range when testing.
When testing electronic products always use approved safety glasses. Follow good laboratory practice
and procedures.
During operation insure the power devices and surrounding structures can be operated safely.
Care should be taken to protect the user from accidental contact when under power.
Provide a strain relief for wires and place the system on the bench in such a way as to prevent
accidental displacement from bench top.
Review thermal consideration and guideline associated with operating the evaluation board. Most
notably use a bench top fan and use rubber feet to elevate the PCB as they allow air flow to
the bottom.
Remove power and use caution when connecting and disconnecting test probes and interface lines
to avoid inadvertent short circuits and contact with hot surfaces.
Verify power connections to avoid reversing applied voltage polarities.
Avoid creating ground loops between the SGND and PGND pins when making measurements.
The product evaluation board is designed for general laboratory evaluation. It is not recommended
The evaluation board is designed to faciliatate the evaluation of the performance of Vicor’s mounted
ZVS buck product. Sockets are provided to permit quick probing. Input sockets can be used to place
a bulk capacitor. The evaluation board provides lugs, and bottom layer banana jack footprint for input
and output connections, signal connectors allowing wire, signal test points for easy connection to
standard test equipment, and Kelvin Johnson-Jack for accurate voltage measurements of power nodes.
Box Contents
The evaluation board ships with the following contents:
1 Customer evaluation board
3 x pre-installed jumpers
1 x hardware kit: 5 x size 10 screws, lugs and washers
Recommended Test Equipment
The following is a list of recommended test equipment.
1. Safety glasses.
2. DC power supply: Refer to the specific PI352x model datasheet to ensure the supply has sufficient
power and current capability.
3. Electronic load: Refer to the specific PI352x model datasheet to ensure the load has sufficient
power handling and current capability for testing.
4. Bench top cooling fan.
5. Digital multi-meters (DMMs).
6. Oscilloscope and probes.
7. Interconnect wires, cables and fastening hardware.
Features
1. Input and output lugs for source and load connections.
2. Input sockets to place through-hole input aluminum-electrolytic capacitor.
3. Input source filter (L102, R105).
4. Toggle switch (S101) for enabling and disabling the regulator through the EN pin.
5. Oscilloscope probe jack for accurate, high frequency input (J101) and output (J102) voltage
measurement.
6. Signal pins test points and wire connectors.
7. Kelvin voltage test points and sockets for all pins of the SiP product.
8. Access to voltage switching node VS1 with a nearby ground receptacle.
9. Mode selection switch for local (default) and remote sense loop.
10. Trim control selection for both local and remote sense:
a. ADJ: potentiometer to exercise the full output range.
b. Fixed: resistor to set unit to nominal output.
11. Local and remote sense AC signal injection (J201).
In the “OFF” position, the switch will connect SGND pin to the EN net, which disables the
regulator output.
In the “ON” position, the EN net is allowed to float.
The PI352x evaluation board supports the following operating modes:
ModeS202S201S203J201(+VRS, -VRS)
Local loop, fixed
Nominal output
Local loop, with
Trim range (R206)
Remote loop,
fixed Nominal
output
Remote loop, with
Trim range (R221)
LSFIXED-
LSADJ-
-FIXEDRS
-A DJRS
Place jumper (J201 pin 1-2) to
short R211 for accurate result
Turn (R206) clockwise to
increase the output voltage and
counterclockwise to decrease the
output voltage.
Place jumper (J201 pin 1-2) to
short R211 for accurate result
Turn (R206) clockwise to
increase the output voltage and
counterclockwise to decrease the
output voltage.
Used to connect to point
of load. If not connected
(R223-R224 = 100Ω) will
be in the loop connecting
this node to local +VOUT
-
-
Thermal Consideration
A fan blowing across the evaluation board is recommended for operation. The fan should be placed
about 4 inches away from the evaluation board edge. A typical bench top fan is recommended
providing about 1000LFM. Using the supplied rubber feet is also required in order to elevate the board
about 0.4 inches off a flat surface and enable air flow underneath the PCB.
Power Up Procedure
1. Confirm bench equipment is powered off.
2. Connect input DC power supply positive lead to +VIN input lug, then connect input power supply
negative lead to PGND input lug of the evaluation board.
3. Connect +VOUT lug to the electronic load positive input, connect the PGND output lug to the
electronic load negative input.
4. Verify proper polarity of both input and output connections.
5. Verify on-board mechanical switch (S101) desired actuator position. “ON” state allows power up
upon application of input voltage. S101 default actuator position is “ON” allowing the unit to
power up upon the application of an input voltage greater than V
UVLO_START
6. Verify that three separate two position jumper socket are placed on header (J201) shorting the
following J201 pins 1 to 2, 3 to 4, 5 to 6.
7. Verify desired feedback loopoperation:
On-board mechanical switch (S202) default position is “LS” short for local sense loop
On-board mechanical switch (S201) default position is “FIXED” implying the use of the populated
exact value resistors producing a regulated device specific nominal output voltage.
8. Place measuring equipment such as DMM, scope probes as desired
2. Input lugs: Sized for #10 hardware. Use for making connection to the input source. This board does
not contain reverse polarity protection. Check for proper polarity before applying power.
3. Input filtering: Sockets provision can be used for easy installation of aluminum-electrolytic input
capacitor and filtering (inductor and ceramic capacitors) allows for stable operation with most input
sources. 10 x 2.2µF output ceramic capacitors 1210 (C101- C110) are used to achieve <2% of VIN
peak-to-peak ripple.
4. Enable / Disable switch (S101): When actuator is towards “ON” position, the (EN) pin will be open
and the regulator will be allowed to power up. When actuator is towards “OFF”, the EN pin will be
connected to SGND pin and the regulator will be disabled. When switch (S101) is “ON”, an external
voltage source can control the EN pin state using the external EN test point.
5. Wire to board connector (J108): provides access to the regulator signal. All signal pins are reference
to SGND.
TRK: An external capacitor may be connected between TRK pin and SGND to slow down the
internal reference ramp. With this pin connected to an external capacitor the output voltage
will track the slope effectively executing a soft-start function. See datasheet for additional
tracking options.
6. Loop compensation mode selection (S202): Used to select one of the following:
Local Sense (LS): default. Single ended feedback loop using the internal to the regulator
operational transconductance amplifier. +VOUT Lug is the local sensed location. +VOUT lug is
connected to the Error Amplifier Inverting Input (EAIN) through a voltage divider network.
Remote Sense (RS): Non-isolated remote sensing option using the internal to the regulator
independent differential amplifier which outputs (VDIFF) is in turn connected to the
transconductance amplifier input (EAIN) pin. Remote sensing is achieved using +VRS and –VRS
test points. Resistors R223 and R224 are 100Ω catch resistor placed to prevent an open loop
condition if accidentally switched to this mode.
7. Trim mode selection (S201 or S203): Switch (S201) and trim potentiometer (R206) are associated
with local sense loop while switch (S203) and trim potentiometer (R221) are associated with remote
sense selection. Both Switches (S201 and S203) provide the following trim modes:
Fixed Trim (FIXED): default. Fixed resistor divider is used to set regulator output to the nominal
datasheet output voltage.
Adjustable Trim (ADJ): selection allows the use of trim potentiometer (R206 or R221) to
exercise the full output voltage range. Turn counterclockwise to increase the output voltage
and clockwise to decrease the output voltage. The trim potentiometer at either lowest or
highest point can only exercise the voltage range defined in the datasheet as valid operational
range within tolerance limits. If preferred, through-hole receptacles are available to bypass the
potentiometer with external leaded resistor.
8. Header-jumper (J201): Default setting is all three jumper sockets populated. This header provides
the following function:
Pin 1 and pin 2 can be used to inject the isolated signal of a network analyzer through
(R211= 49.9Ω) used for bode plot measurement in order to evaluate the stability in
local sense mode.
Pin 3 and pin 4 are used to short the Lighting (LGH)/Constant Current (CC) Sense Input to
SGND. LGH header pin 4 is used for lighting and constant current type applications. When not
in use the constant current mode (CC mode), the LGH pin should be connected to SGND. Refer
to the product datasheet for availability of this pin function.
Pin 5 and pin 6 can be used to inject the isolated signal of a network analyzer through
(R214 = 49.9Ω) used for bode plot measurement in order to evaluate the stability in remote
sense mode.
9. Soft-start capacitor (C123): Capacitor connected to regulator TRK pin and SGND. The soft-start
time is set with an internal 47nF capacitor to roughly 0.94ms. C123 can be added to further stretch
the soft-start ramp C
TRK
= (t
TRK_DESIRED
x 50E-6) – 47E-9 where I
= 50µA.
TRK
10. Internal operational transconductance amplifier compensation network (C201, R212, C203, C202):
this network provides flexibility during loop compensation design to adjust the compensation.
For the purpose of this evaluation board C201 in series to the internal R(ZI) of 5kΩ is used.
The maximum mid-band gain that can be achieved when using the internal R(ZI) is roughly
(20•log(R(ZI)•gm•V
REF/VOUT_ SE T
). With a reference voltage of 0.99V and output voltage of 5V max
midband gain is ~14dB. R212 + R(ZI) and C203 in series can be used to further increase the midband gain. C202 can be used to lower the high frequency pole if desired. The high frequency pole
is set internally to ~1.7Mhz using a C(HF) = 56pF.
11. Output lugs: Sized for #10 hardware. Use these lugs to connect the output directly to the load.
12. Output oscilloscope probe Jack (J102): Used for making accurate scope measurements of the
output voltage (e.g. ripple). The jack is directly compatible with many common passive voltage
probes models. Remove the grounding lead and insulating barrel of the probe and insert the probe
tip and barrel directly into the jack, ensuring that the probe tip sits in the center socket of the jack.
To avoid the risk of an inadvertent short circuit, do not attempt to install while power is applied.
This Johnson Jack is kelvin connected to C113 positive pin.
13. Output filter: 12x 47µF output ceramic capacitors 1210 (C111- C122). Is used to achieve <1.5% of
V
Each square point test point can be used with standard probes, clips or hooks. All test points are
labeled on the board. Each test point is accompanied with an adjacent socket for adding a test lead or
to facilitate wiring to external circuitry.
Table 1
Test Point Descriptions
Reference Designator/
Functional name
+VIN, PGND
+VO U T, PGND
VDR
PWRGD
EN
SGNDInternal logic ground.
TRK
COM P
EAO
EAIN_RError Amp Inverting Input separated with R222 = 0Ω.
VSPNon-inverting input to an independent differential amplifier.
+VRS, -VRS
J201
Input voltage test points provide connection to input lugs. Use Kelvin (J101) to
avoid interconnection losses if accuracy is desired.
Output voltage test points provide connection to output lugs. Use Kelvin (J102)
to avoid interconnection losses if accuracy is desired.
A 5.1V auxiliary supply with max loading of 2mA. If used this pin must
have a series resistance such as R103 = 1kΩ with a decoupling cap of
0.1µF such as C124.
Power good indicator. During a regulator fault this pin is pulled internally
to signal ground.
Input to the regulator. If left floating or driven high (V
will be enabled.
Soft-start and track input. An external capacitor may be connected between TRK
pin and SGND to increase the rise time of the internal reference during soft-start.
Compensation pin. An internal 5KOhm is in series between this pin and the EAO
pin. A default C201 = 4.7nF is used.
Error Amp output. External connection for additional compensation and
current sharing.
Non-isolated remote sense input. When selecting remote sense feedback connect
to the regulation point at the load.
Used to inject the isolated signal of a network analyzer into the feedback look.
Pin injection point is depend on loop selection.
Each socket accepts 0.015 – 0.025 inch diameter leads for easy installation of solid wires and throughhole components for use with external circuit and test equipment.
Table 2
Sockets Descriptions
Reference
Designator
(Shown in
Assembly Drawing)
TP101, TP103
TP10 5, TP103Input Capacitor (CIN)
TP112Power Ground (PGND)
TP10 4, TP102
TP201, TP203
TP215, TP216
TP110VDR
TP111PWRGD
TP107EN
TP10 9SGNDInternal logic ground.
TP10 8TRK
TP207COM P
TP209EAO
TP208EAIN_RError Amp Inverting Input separated with R222 = 10kΩ.
TP210VSPNon-inverting input to an independent differential amplifier.
TP211, TP212
Functional NameDescription
Input
voltage (+VIN, -VIN)
Input
voltage (+VOUT, -VOUT)
Local sense trim resistor
test points (R206)
Remote sense trim
resistor test points (R221)
Remote Sense
input (+VRS, -VRS)
Input voltage test points. +VIN location is after input filter
inductor. –VIN is connected to PGND.
Sockets are used for easy installation of through-hole
100V rated aluminum-electrolytic capacitor. Ensure proper
polarity with short leads while installing.
This test point is in close proximity of the voltage switching
node (VS1) test point. To be used when probing VS1 to
minimizing ground loop.
Output voltage test points. –VOUT is connected to PGND.
Used for easy installation of a fixed through-hole resistor
across the Trim pot. Used only when Switch (S202) is in
local sense position and switch (S201) is in Adj position.
Used for easy installation of a fixed through-hole resistor
across the Trim pot. Used only when Switch (S202) is in
remote sense position and switch (S203) is in Adj position.
A 5.1V auxiliary supply with max loading of 2mA. If used
this pin must have a series resistance such as R103 = 1kΩ
with a decoupling cap of 0.1µF such as C124.
Power good indicator. During a regulator fault this pin is
pulled internally to signal ground.
Input to the regulator. If left floating or driven high
(V
Soft-start and track input. An external capacitor may be
connected between TRK pin and SGND to increase the rise
time of the internal reference during soft-start.
Compensation pin. An internal 5kΩ is in series between this
pin and the EAO pin. A default C201 = 4.7nF is used.
Error Amp output. External connection for additional
compensation and current sharing.
Non-isolated remote sense input. When selecting remote
sense feedback connect to the regulation point at the load.