- Analog Toolbox
- Getting Started with the FRDMGD3162HBIEVM Evaluation Board
Getting Started with the FRDMGD3162HBIEVM Evaluation Board
Contents of this document
-
Out of the Box
-
Get to Know the Hardware
-
Install Software
-
Configure Hardware
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Purchase your FRDMGD3162HBIEVM
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 FRDMGD3162HBIEVM board.
1.1 Kit Content and Packing List
The FRDMGD3162HBIEVM contents include:
1.2 Additional Hardware
In addition to the kit contents, the following hardware is necessary or beneficial when working with this board.
- Compatible HybridPACK™ Drive insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) module
- DC link capacitor compatible with the HybridPACK drive module
- 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
- 20 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 probes
- Digital voltmeter
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 http://www.nxp.com/FRDMGD3162HBIEVM.
- Flex GUI software for using with KITGD316XTREVB MCU/translator board
2. Get to Know the Hardware
2.1 Board Features
- Capability to connect to HybridPACK drive module for half-bridge evaluations
- Adjustable negative VEE gate low drive level (0 V to -10 V DC)
- Adjustable VCC gate high drive level (10 V to 25 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
- DC link bus voltage monitor on low-side driver via AMUXIN and AOUT
- Negative or positive temperature coefficient connection and configurable for monitoring module temperature
2.2 Board Description
The FRDMGD3162HBIEVM is a half-bridge evaluation kit populated with two GD3162 single channel gate drive devices. The kit includes the Freedom KL25Z microcontroller hardware for interfacing a PC installed with FlexGUI software for communication to the serial peripheral interface (SPI) registers on the GD3162 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 GD3162 gate drivers. The evaluation kit can be connected to a compatible IGBT or SiC module for half-bridge evaluations and applications development.
2.3 Board Components
Overview of the FRDMGD3162HBIEVM board
2.3.1 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
2.3.2 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. 3.3 V to 5.0 V translator board
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 |
3. Install Software
Software for FRDMGD3162HBIEVM is distributed with the FlexGUI tool (available at 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 debug.
3.1 Install FlexGUI On Your Computer
The latest version of FlexGUI supports the GD3100, GD3160 and GD3162. It is designed to run on any Windows 10 or Windows 8 based operating system.
- Go to www.nxp.com/FlexGUI and click Download.
- When the FlexGUI software page appears, click Download and select the version associated with your PC operating system.
- 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. Configure Hardware
4.1 Configure the Hardware
FRDMGD3162HBIEVM is connected to compatible SiC MOSFET HybridPACK Drive module with a DC link capacitor. Double pulse and short-circuit testing can be conducted using 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 HybridPACK Drive module
- IGBT or SiC MOSFET HybridPACK Drive 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 testing
Design Resources
Board Information
Additional References
In addition to our GD3162: Advanced Single-Channel High-Voltage Isolated Automotive Gate Driver for SiC MOSFETs/IGBTs page, you may also want to visit:
Gate driver pages:
Application pages: