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Evaluates: MAX77596
MAX77596 Evaluation Kit
Detailed Description of Hardware
The MAX77596 EV kit is a fully assembled and tested
circuit board to evaluate the performance of the MAX77596
step-down converter IC. The EV kit operates over a 3.5V
to 24V input voltage range, while consuming only 1.1µA
of quiescent current at 14VIN and 0mA load (fixed-output
voltage version).
The EV kit can be configured to operate in forced-PWM
mode (FPWM) or low-quiescent current skip mode using
jumper J2. The IC can be enabled or disabled using jump-
er J1. The RESETB test point connects to the IC’s RESET
output, which monitors output-voltage quality. Refer to the
MAX77596 IC data sheet for more information on the IC.
Configuring the Output Voltage (VOUT)
The EV kit comes standard with the fixed 3.3V output
version, but can easily be modified to evaluate the
adjustable-output version of the device or the 5V fixed
version.
To evaluate the 5V fixed output voltage version, replace
U1 with the MAX77596ETBA+ and leave the rest of the
board unchanged.
To evaluate the adjustable-output voltage version, replace
U1 with the MAX77596ETBC+ and remove the 0Ω
resistor on R4. The output voltage of the adjustable
version can be set between 1V and 10V by populating
resistors R3 and R4. Choose R3 to be less than or equal
to 100kΩ. Then calculate R4 for the desired VOUT with
the following equation:
R4 = R3 x [(VOUT/VFB) - 1]
where VFB = 1V.
The feed-forward capacitor (C8) is already installed
for use with the external feedback resistors and the
adjustable version of the IC. C8 is not required for the
fixed-output-voltage version. When evaluating other
versions of the device, the inductor, input capacitors, and
output capacitors might need to change. Refer to the
Applications Information section in the MAX77596 IC data
sheet for more information.
Enable Control
The EV kit uses jumper J1 to control the enable (EN)
input. Connect EN to VIN (SUP) by shunting pins 1-2 to
enable the device. Connect EN to GND by shunting pins
2-3 to disable the device. Table 1 summarizes the opera-
tion of J1.
Mode Control
The EV kit uses jumper J2 to configure the IC in either
forced-PWM (FPWM) mode or skip mode. Connect the
MODE pin to BIAS by installing a shunt in positions 1-2
on J2 to enable FPWM mode. Connect MODE to GND
by installing a shunt in positions 2-3 on J2 to enable skip
mode. Table 2 summarizes the operation of J2.
RESET Output
The EV kit provides a RESETB test point to monitor
the status of the RESET pin. RESET becomes high
impedance and is pulled to the BIAS voltage level through
resistor R1 after the regulator output increases above
92% of the nominal regulated voltage. RESET goes
low when the regulator output drops below 90% of the
nominal regulated voltage.
Table 1. Enable Control (J1) Table 2. Mode Control (J2)
SHUNT
POSITION EN PIN VOUT
1-2 Connected to VIN
(SUP) Enabled
2-3 Connected to GND
(PGND) Disabled
Not
installed
Connected to an
external source
Enabled with logic-high
Disabled with logic-low
SHUNT
POSITION MODE PIN MODE
1-2 Connected to BIAS Forced-PWM mode
2-3 Connected to GND Skip mode
Not
installed Floating Internally pulled down to
GND, skip mode