Getting Started with the FRDMGD3160XM3EVM Evaluation Board

2.1 Board Features

• Capability to connect to CAB450M12XM3 form factor module for half-bridge evaluations
• Negative VEE gate low drive level (−3.7 V DC)
• VCCREG regulated high gate drive level (+15 V to +21 V DC programmable)
• 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 temperature coefficient (NTC) connection and configurable for monitoring module temperature

2.2 Board Description

The FRDMGD3160XM3EVM 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 DESAT circuitry for short-circuit detection and implementation of GD3160 shutdown protection capabilities.

The evaluation board is designed to connect to an XM3 module for evaluation of the GD3160 performance and capabilities.

2.2.1 3.3 V to 5.0 V translator board.

KITGD3160TREVB translator enables level shifting of signals from MCU 3.3 V to 5.0 V SPI communication.

2.2.2 Kinetis KL25Z Freedom board.

The Freedom KL25Z is an ultra-low-cost development platform for Kinetis^® L Series KL1x (KL14/15) and KL2x (KL24/25) MCUs built on Arm^® Cortex^®-M0+ processor.

2.3 Board Components

Overview of the FRDMGD3160XM3EVM half-bridge evaluation board.

Software for FRDMGD3160XM3EVM 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 Install FlexGUI on your computer

1. Go to www.nxp.com/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

3.2 Configure the FRDM-KL25Z microcode

By default, the FRDM-KL25Z delivered with this kit is preprogrammed with the current and most up-to-date firmware available for the kit.

A way to check quickly that the microcode is programmed and the board is functioning properly, is to plug the KL25Z into the computer, open FlexGUI, and verify that the software version at the bottom is 6.4 or later.

If a loss of functionality following a board reset, reprogramming, or a corrupted data issue, the microcode may be rewritten per the following steps:

1. To clear the memory and place the board in boot loader mode, hold down the reset button while plugging a USB cable into the OpenSDA USB port
2. Verify that the board appears as a BOOTLOADER device and continue with step 3. Ifthe board appears as KL25Z, you may go to step 6
3. Download the Firmware Apps .zip archive from the PEmicro OpenSDA webpage (PEmicro OpenSDA Support). Validate your email address to access the files
4. Find the most recent MDS-DEBUG-FRDM-KL25Z_Pemicro_v118.SDA and copy/drag-and-drop into the BOOTLOADER device
5. Reboot the board by unplugging and replugging the connection to the OpenSDA port. Verify now that the device appears as a KL25Z device to continue
6. Locate the most recent KL25Z firmware; which is distributed as part of the FlexGUI package
   • From the FlexGUI install directory, which is located in the flexgui-app-des-gd31xx\bin folder and is named in the form “flexgui-fw-KL25Z_usb_hid_gd31xxC_v0.3.0.bin”
   • This .bin file is a product/family-specific configuration file for FRDM-KL25Z containing the pin definitions, SPI/PWM generation code, and pin mapping assignments necessary to interface with the translator board as part ofFRDMGD3160XM3EVM
7. With the KL25Z still plugged through the OpenSDA port, copy/drag-and-drop the .bin file into the KL25Z device memory. Once done, disconnect the USB and plug into the other USB port, labeled KL25Z.
8. The device may not appear as a distinct device to the computer while connected through the KL25Z USB port, this is normal
9. The FRDM-KL25Z board is now fully set up to work with FRDMGD3160XM3EVM and the FlexGUI
10. There is no software stored or present on either the driver or translator boards, only on the FRDM-KL25Z MCU board

All uploaded firmware is stored in non-volatile memory until the reset button is hit on the FRDM-KL25Z. There is no need to repeat this process upon every power up, and there is no loss of data associated with a single unplug event.

FRDMGD3160XM3EVM is connected to compatible SiC MOSFET XM3 module. 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-vutage differential voltage probe
• High sample rate digital oscilloscope with probes
• DC link capacitor compatible with XM3 module
• IGBT or SiC MOSFET XM3 module
• Windows based PC
• High-voltage DC power supply for DC link voltage
• Low-voltage DC power supply for VSUP – +15 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

Board Documents

• FRDMGD3160XM3EVM - Design Files
• FRDMGD3160XM3EVM - Schematics
• UM11602, FRDMGD3160XM3EVM Evaluation Board - User Manual
• UM11592, FlexGUI for GD3160 software - User Guide

Software

• FlexGUI: Software Tool for Evaluation of Reference Design Kits

Forums

Connect with other engineers and get expert advice on designing with the RDDRONE-T1ADAPT Evaluation Board on one of our community sites.

• Power Management
• NXP Community