Getting Started with the FRDMGD3160CSLEVM Evaluation Board

2.1 Board Features

• Capability to connect to Bosch CSL SiC module for half-bridge evaluations
• Negative VEE gate low drive level (configurable with potentiometer from -2.0 V to -8.0 V DC)
• Adjustable VCCREG regulated high gate drive level (15 V to 21 V DC)
• Jumper configurable for disabling dead time fault protection when short-circuit testing
• Easy access power, ground and signal test points
• Easy to install and use FlexGUI for interfacing via SPI through PC; software includes double pulse and short-circuit testing capability
• Negative temperature coefficient (NTC) connection and configurable for monitoring module temperature

2.2 Board Description

The FRDMGD3160CSLEVM is a half-bridge evaluation board populated with two GD3160 single channel IGBT or SiC gate drive devices. The board supports connection to an FRDM-KL25Z microcontroller for SPI communication configuration programming and monitoring. The board includes desaturation (DESAT) circuitry for short-circuit detection and implementation of GD3160 shutdown protection capabilities.

The evaluation board is designed to connect to Bosch CSL SiC module for evaluation of the GD3160 performance and capabilities.

2.3 Board Components

Overview of the FRDMGD3160CSLEVM board

The FRDMGD3160CSLEVM is a half-bridge evaluation kit populated with two GD3160 single channel gate drive devices. The kit includes the Freedom KL25Z microcontroller hardware for interfacing a PC installed with FlexGUI software. This NXP software interfaces the communication to the serial peripheral interface (SPI) registers on the GD3160 gate drive devices in either daisy chain or standalone configuration.

The KITGD316XTREVB translator board is used to translate 3.3 V signals to 5.0 V signals between the MCU and GD3160 gate drivers. The evaluation kit can be connected to a compatible insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or SiC module for half-bridge evaluations and applications development.

Kinetis KL25Z Freedom Board

The Freedom KL25Z is an ultra low-cost development platform for Kinetis L series MCU built on Arm Cortex-M0+ processor.

Figure 1. Freedom development platform

3.3 V to 5.0 V Translator Board

KITGD316XTREVB translator enables level shifting of signals from MCU 3.3 V to 5.0 V SPI communication.

Figure 2. Translator board

Table 1. Translator board jumper definitions

Software for FRDMGD3160CSLEVM is distributed with the FlexGUI tool (available on NXP.com). Necessary firmware comes pre-installed on the FRDM-KL25Z with the kit.

Even if the user intends to test with other software or PWM, it is recommended to install this software as a backup or to help debugging.

3.1 Installing FlexGUI on Your Computer

The latest version of FlexGUI supports the GD3100 and GD3160. It is designed to run on any Windows 10 or Windows 8 based operating system. To install the software, do the following:

1. Go to FlexGUI and click Download
2. When the FlexGUI software page appears, click Download and select the version associated with your PC operating system
3. FlexGUI wizard creates a shortcut, an NXP FlexGUI icon appears on the desktop. By default, the FlexGUI executable file is installed at C:\flexgui-app-des-gd31xx.exe. Installing the device drivers overwrites any previous FlexGUI installation and replaces it with a current version containing the GD31xx drivers. However, configuration files (.spi) from the previous version remain intact

4.1 Configure Hardware

FRDMGD3160CSLEVM is connected to compatible CSL SiC MOSFET module with a DC link capacitor as shown in Figure 3. Double pulse and short-circuit testing can be conducted utilizing Windows based PC with FlexGUI software.

Suggested equipment needed for test:

• Rogowski coil high-current probe
• High-voltage differential voltage probe
• High sample rate digital oscilloscope with probes
• DC link capacitor compatible with CSL module
• CSL SiC MOSFET module
• Windows based PC
• High-voltage DC power supply for DC link voltage
• Low-voltage DC power supply for VSUP - +12 V DC gate drive board low-voltage domain
• Voltmeter for monitoring high-voltage DC link supply
• Load coil for double pulse and short-circuit testing

Figure 3. Evaluation board and system setup

Figure 4. Power module