Getting Started with the FRDMGD3160DCMHB Evaluation Board

Last Modified: 2023-04-29 10:51:00Supports FRDMGD3160DCMHB

Contents of this document

  • 1

    Out of the Box

  • 2

    Get Hardware

  • 3

    Install Software

  • 4

    Configure Hardware

Purchase your FRDMGD3160DCMHB

Contents of this document

1. Out of the Box

The NXP analog product development boards provide an easy-to-use platform for evaluating NXP products. The boards support a range of analog, mixed-signal and power solutions. They incorporate monolithic integrated circuits and system-in-package devices that use proven high-volume technology. NXP products offer longer battery life, a smaller form factor, reduced component counts, lower cost and improved performance in powering state-of-the-art systems.

This page will guide you through the process of setting up and using the FRDMGD3160DCMHB board.

1.1 Kit Contents and Packing List

The FRDMGD3160DCMHB contents include:

  • Assembled and tested FRDMGD3160DCMHB board in an anti-static bag
  • 3.3 V to 5.0 V translator board (KITGD316XTREVB) connected to FRDM-KL25Z
  • USB type A male to type mini B male cable
  • Quick Start Guide

1.2 Additional Hardware

In addition to the kit contents, the following hardware is necessary or beneficial when working with this board.

  • 1.27 mm jumpers for configuration (included with kit)
  • 30 µH to 50 µH, high-current air core inductor for double pulse testing
  • HV power supply with protection shield and hearing protection
  • 12 V, 1.0 A DC power supply
  • 500 MHz 2.5 GS/s 4-channel oscilloscope
  • Rogowski coil, PEM Model CWT Mini HF60R or CTW MiniHF30 (smaller diameter)
  • Isolated high-voltage probe (CAL Test Electric CT2593-1, Tektronix THDP0200)
  • Digital voltmeter

For half-bridge evaluation, you need:

  • DCM™1000X SiC MOSFET module from Danfoss Silicon Power (Danfoss P/N: 135L0655; BR1056 DP660B1200T105606)
  • DC link capacitor compatible with the DCM™1000X module (Danfoss P/N: 135B0234)

For three-phase evaluation, you need:

  • DCM™1000X SiC evaluation kit from Danfoss Silicon Power (three power modules, DC link, cooler plate and accessories) (Danfoss P/N: 135F9007)
  • Two additional FRDMGD3160DCMHB boards (one for each power module)

1.3 Windows PC Workstation

The kit requires the following to function properly with the software:

  • Windows 7 or higher operating system

1.4 Software

Installing software is necessary to work with this half-bridge evaluation kit. All listed software is available at FRDMGD3160DCMHB.

  • Flex GUI software for using with KITGD316XTREVB MCU/translator board

NextGet Hardware

2. Get Hardware

2.1 Board Features

  • Capability to connect to DCM™ 1000X module for half-bridge or three-phase evaluations
  • Negative VEE gate low-drive level (-3.9 V DC)
  • VCCREG regulated high-gate drive level (+15 V DC)
  • Easy access power, ground and signal test points, external pulse width modulation (PWM) input
  • Easy to install and use FlexGUI for interfacing via SPI through PC; software includes double pulse and short-circuit testing capability
  • DC link bus voltage monitor on low-side driver via AMUXIN and AOUT
  • Positive temperature coefficient (PTC) connection and configurable for monitoring module temperature

2.2 Board Description

The FRDMGD3160DCMHB is a half-bridge or three-phase 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 DESAT circuitry for short-circuit detection and implementation of GD3160 shutdown protection capabilities.

The evaluation board is designed to connect to a single DCM™1000X module (half- bridge configuration) or a full evaluation kit (three-phase configuration, with two additional FRDMGD3160DCMHB boards) for evaluation of the GD3160 performance and capabilities.

2.3 Board Components

Overview of the FRDMGD3160DCMHB evaluation board.

2.4 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.

2.5 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.

Table 1. Translator board jumper definitions

Jumper Position Function
VCCSEL (J3) 1-2 selects 5.0 V for 5.0 V compatible gate drive
2-3 selects 3.3 V for 3.3 V compatible gate drive
PWMH_SEL (J4) 1-2 selects PWM high-side control from KL25Z MCU
2-3 selects PWM high-side control from fiber optic receiver inputs
PWML_SEL (J5) 1-2 selects PWM low-side control from KL25Z MCU
2-3 selects PWM low-side control from fiber optic receiver inputs

PreviousOut of the Box
NextInstall Software

3. Install the Software

Software for FRDMGD3160DCMHB is distributed with the FlexGUI tool (available at NXP). 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 Install 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.

  1. Go to Flex GUI page 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 and 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

PreviousGet Hardware
NextConfigure Hardware

4. Configuring Hardware

The FRDMGD3160DCMHB board can be used in half-bridge mode to evaluate a single power module by running double pulse and short-circuit tests.

Alternatively, three FRDMGD3160DCMHB boards can be chained together to evaluate a three-phase assembly such as provided with the DCM™1000X SiC evaluation kit. The following sections detail the required configuration for both modes of operation.

4.1 Half-Bridge Configuration

FRDMGD3160DCMHB is connected to a compatible DCM™ 1000X module with a suitable DC link capacitor. Double pulse and short-circuit testing can be conducted utilizing Windows-based PC with FlexGUI software.

Suggested equipment needed for test:

  • DCM™1000X module and compatible DC link capacitor from Danfoss Silicon Power
  • 1 x FRDMGD3160DCMHB, 1 x KITGD3160TREVB and 1 x FRDM-KL25Z
  • Rogowski coil high-current probe
  • High-voltage differential voltage probe
  • High-sample-rate digital oscilloscope with probes
  • Windows-based PC
  • High-voltage DC power supply for DC link voltage
  • Low-voltage DC power supply for VSUP (12 V)
  • Load coil for double pulse testing
  1. Download and install the latest FlexGUI software (see Section 3.1)
  2. Assemble the FRDMGD3160DCMHB with the translator board and KL25Z on the power module
  3. Check jumper configuration on the evaluation board before powering up and ensure that the configuration meets desired use case. If R50 is closed, FlexGUI displays the same information for INTBL and INTBH
  4. KL25Z generates the PWM signals for short-circuit or double pulse testing. No external input on J13 (Ext PWM) is required. Check that J4 and J5 use PWM from MCU (1-2) on translator board
  5. Launch FlexGUI application software on PC and select the configuration matching the chosen SPI mode. Connect USB cable from PC to USB KL25Z port on KL25Z microcontroller board. KL25Z microcontroller is shipped with proper firmware already flashed
  6. Supply 12 V DC power to the low-voltage domain of the evaluation board by using VSUP TP6 and GND TP7
  7. Start FlexGUI communications and check VCCL, VCCH, VEEL, VEEH voltage levels regarding GNDH and GNDL test points. If VCC voltages are low, adjust R5 potentiometer
  8. PWM, double pulse and short circuit tests can be generated from the Pulse tab. For short-circuit testing, PWMHSEL (J11) and PWMLSEL (J10) must be configured to bypass dead time control

PreviousInstall Software
NextDesign Resources

Design Resources

Board Documents

Additional References

In addition to our GD3160 page, you may also want to visit:

Gate driver pages:

Application pages:

  • Hybrid and Eectric Vehicle Powertrain
  • 3-Phase High-Voltage Motor Control

    • PreviousConfigure Hardware