Getting Started with the FRDMGD3160HB8EVM Evaluation Board
Contents of this document
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Out of the Box
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Get Hardware
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Install Software
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Configure Hardware
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Purchase your FRDMGD3160HB8EVM Evaluation Board
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 FRDMGD3160HB8EVM board.
1.1 Kit Content and Packing List
The FRDMGD3160HB8EVM contents include:
- Assembled and tested FRDMGD3160HB8EVM board in an anti-static bag
- 3.3 V to 5.0 V translator board (KITGD316XTREVB) connected to FRDM-KL25Z
- USB cable, type A male/type mini B male, 3 ft
- 1.27 mm jumpers for configuration (included with kit boards)
- 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.
- Compatible SiC module
- DC link capacitor compatible with the SiC module
- 30 μH to 50 μH, high current air core inductor for double pulse testing
- HV power supply with protection shield and hearing protection
- 25 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, LeCroy AP030)
- 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 FRDMGD3160HB8EVM.
- Flex GUI software for using with KITGD316XTREVB MCU/translator board
2. Get Hardware
2.1 Board Features
- Capability to connect to P6 SiC module for half-bridge evaluations
- Negative VEE gate low drive level (−3.9 V DC)
- VCCREG regulated high gate drive level (+15 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 FRDMGD3160HB8EVM is a half-bridge evaluation kit populated with two GD3160 single channel gate drive devices. The kit includes the FRDM KL25Z microcontroller hardware for interfacing a PC installed with Flex GUI software for 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 the 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.
2.3 Board Components
Overview of the FRDMGD3160HB8EVM board.
2.4 Kinetis KL25Z FRDM Board
The FRDM KL25Z is a 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.
| 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
3.1 Install Software
Software for FRDMGD3160HB8EVM 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.
3.2 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 FlexGUI and click Download
- When the FlexGUI software page appears, click Download and select the version associated with your PC operating system
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FlexGUI wizard creates a shortcut, an NXP FlexGUI icon appears on the desktop. By default, the FlexGUI executable file is installed at
C:\NXP_GD31xx_GUI-x.x.x.msi. 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 Hardware
FRDMGD3160HB8EVM is connected to a KITGD316XTREVB translator board and a FRDM-KL25Z board as shown in the following figure. Double pulse and short-circuit testing can be conducted using a 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
- SiC MOSFET P6 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
Design Resources
Board Information
References
In addition to our GD3160: 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: