Getting Started with the FRDMGD31RPEVM Evaluation Kit

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 FRDMGD31RPEVM board.

1.1 Kit Contents/Packing List

The FRDMGD31RPEVM contents include:

Assembled and tested FRDMGD31RPEVM 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
Quick start guide

1.2 Additional Hardware

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

Compatible SiC RoadPak module
DC link capacitor compatible with the SiC RoadPak 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
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

Get to Know the Hardware

2.1 Board Features

Capability to connect to RoadPak 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 temperature coefficient (NTC) connection and configurable for monitoring module temperature

2.2 Board Description

The FRDMGD31RPEVM 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 a RoadPak SiC metal-oxide- semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) 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 MCU built on Arm Cortex-M0+ processor.

2.3 Board Components

Overview of the FRDMGD31RPEVM half-bridge evaluation board

2.4 Additional Board Support

Refer to UM11401, FRDMGD31RPEVM half-bridge evaluation board user manual for additional details on the featured components.

Configure the Hardware

FRDMGD31RPEVM is connected to a compatible SiC MOSFET RoadPak 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 (power ring 700D407 425 μF, 900 V DC)
SiC MOSFET RoadPak 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

3.1 Additional Board Support

Refer to UM11401, FRDMGD31RPEVM half-bridge evaluation board user manual for additional details on the hardware configuration.

Install Software

Software for FRDMGD31RPEVM 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.

4.1 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. To install the software, do the following:

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.

4.2 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:

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.
Verify that the board appears as a Bootloader device and continue with step 3. If the board appears as KL25Z, you may go to step 6.
Download the Firmware Apps .zip archive from the PEmicro OpenSDA webpage (http://www.pemicro.com/opensda/). Validate your email address to access the files.
Find the most recent MDS-DEBUG-FRDM-KL25Z_Pemicro_v***.SDA and copy/drag-and-drop into the Bootloader device.
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.
Locate the most recent KL25Z firmware; which is distributed as part of the FlexGUI package.
- a. 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”.
- b. 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 of FRDMGD31RPEVM.
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.
- a. The device may not appear as a distinct device to the computer while connected through the KL25Z USB port, this is normal.
The FRDM-KL25Z board is now fully set up to work with FRDMGD31RPEVM and the FlexGUI.
- a. 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.

4.3 Additional Board Support

Refer to UM11401, FRDMGD31RPEVM half-bridge evaluation board user manual for additional software details.

4.4 Ready to Use

Start embedded application development.

Design Resources

Board Information

Additional References

In addition to our GD3160: Advanced single-channel gate driver for insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) page, you may also want to visit:

Gate driver pages:

GD3100

Product pages:

3-Phase Brushless Motor Pre-Driver

Application pages:

Hardware pages:

Analog Toolbox

Software pages:

Analog Expert Software and Tools