Getting Started with the KITPF8150FRDMEVM and KITPF8250FRDMEVM Evaluation Boards

2.1 Board Overview

The KITPF8150FRDMEVM or the KITPF8250FRDMEVM provides 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 (IC) 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.

These customer evaluation boards feature the PF8150/PF8250 power management integrated circuit (PMIC). The kits integrate all the hardware needed to fully evaluate the PMIC. They integrate a communication bridge based on the FRDM-KL25Z development board to interface with the GUI software interface to fully configure and control the PF8150/PF8250 PMIC.

2.2 Board Features

Buck regulators

• SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6: 0.4 V to 1.8 V; 2500 mA; 1.5 % accuracy and dynamic voltage scaling and single-, dual-, triple- or quad-phase configuration
• SW7; 1.0 V to 4.1 V; 2500 mA; 2 % accuracy
• Configurable voltage target termination (VTT) termination mode on SW6
• Programmable current limit
• Spread-spectrum and manual tuning of switching frequency

LDO regulators

• 4x low drop-out (LDO) regulator 1.5 V to 5.0 V, 400 mA: 3 % accuracy with optional load-switch mode
• Selectable hardware/software control on LDO2

Real-Time Clock (RTC) supply

• Voltage for secure non-volatile storage (VSNVS) 1.8 V/3.0 V/3.3 V, 10 mA
• Battery-backed memory including coin-cell charger with programmable charge current and voltage

System features

• 2.7 V to 5.5 V operating input voltage range
• USB-to-inter-integrated circuit (I²C) communication via the FRDM-KL25Z interface
• Selectable hardwire default PMIC configuration or one-time programmable (OTP) / try-before-buy (TBB) operation
• Fast mode I²C communication at 400 kHz (high-speed operation supported by PMIC)
• Advanced system monitoring/diagnostic via PMIC and/or system analog multiplexer (AMUX)
• Primary/secondary interface connector
• Onboard I/O regulator with 1.8 V/3.3 V selectable output voltage

2.3 Board Description

The KITPF8150FRDMEVM/KITPF8250FRDMEVM are hardware evaluation boards that allow the full evaluation of the PF8150/PF8250. The PF8150/PF8250 family of devices feature a PMIC designed for high-performance applications based on NXP's i.MX 8 and S32x processors, but also on other non-NXP processors. It features seven high-efficiency buck converters and four linear regulators for powering the processor, memory and miscellaneous peripherals.

Built-in OTP memory stores key startup configurations to drastically reduce external components that are used to set output voltage and sequence of external regulators. Regulator parameters are adjustable through high-speed I²C after startup offering flexibility for different system states.

The PF8150/PF8250 family is comprised of two versions of this PMIC to address different market needs:

• PF8250 is the flagship version of this family providing a full-feature PMIC with integrated functional safety mechanism to comply with the ISO 26262 standard and provide a powerful and flexible solution for ASIL B/D automotive modules
• PF8150 is the non-safety version of this product, providing all the power management and digital control included in PF8250, without the functional safety overhead, to provide a more economic platform for non-safety systems

The key features are listed in Table 1.

Table 1. Key features.

The Figure 1 consists of a multiple board with FRDM-LKL25 as shown in the final assembly below.

Figure 1. KITPF8150FRDMEVM/KITPF8250FRDMEVM Overview

Figure 1. KITPF8150FRDMEVM/KITPF8250FRDMEVM Overview

3.1 Hardware Configuration

This section summarizes the overall setup, however the user guide provides a more detailed description. The suggested equipment needed for testing is as follows:

• 3.0 V to 5.0 V power supply (using banana jacks)
• Computer
• Mini USB Type-A cable or USB Type-C cable depending on the KL25Z board

3.2 Configuration Image

Figure 2. Typical Initial Configuration

Figure 2. Typical Initial Configuration

3.3 Device Considerations

It is recommended to learn about the device and its specifications prior to operating the boards. The device has a high level of flexibility due to parameter configuration available in the OTP. This impacts the functionality of the device, which is key to understanding how the parameters are programmed on the device.

Note: The board is populated with a MC33PF8100A0ES or a MC33PF8200A0ES.

3.4 Setting Up the Board

Follow the steps to configure the hardware and workstation as illustrated.

1. With the USB cable connected to the PC and the USB port in the FRDM board, apply the voltage input (VIN) to the evaluation board
   • Provide external VIN between 2.5 V to 5.5 V on J10 (VIN) and J4 ground (GND)
   • Use the short jumper J17 to provide 3V3 VIN from FRDM board (use this mode of operation for functional demonstration only, no regulation loading is allowed in this mode)

     Note: Do not apply power to J10 while J17 is short, as this could damage the onboard regulator on the FRDM-KL25Z Freedom board

2. Press reset the FRDM board to ensure that the board is properly recognized

4.1 Downloading the GUI

1. Sign in to the NXP website and click the button to download the NXP GUI for Automotive PMIC Families. This GUI interface integrates multiple products of the NXP Auto PMICs. You will need to read the agreement and accept to download the files.

   Figure 3. Downloads

   

   Figure 3. Downloads

   
2. Go to the folder location in which the GUI package is saved, unzip the files and open them (as shown below)

   Figure 4. GUI Files Example

   

   Figure 4. GUI Files Example

   

4.2 Installing and Opening GUI

1. Open the "1-NXP_GUI_Setup" folder and click the file named "NXP_GUI-10.0.0-Setup.exe", to install the GUI

   Figure 5. 1-NXP_GUI_Setup Folder Example

   

   Figure 5. 1-NXP_GUI_Setup Folder Example

   
2. When opening the GUI, select the PMIC product on the evaluation board as shown below (e.g. if the evaluation board is KITPF8150FRDMEVM, select PF8150 and click OK)

   Figure 6. PF8150 kit selection example.

4.3 Updating the PF8150/PF8250 Firmware

The FRDM-KL25Z board is used as a communication bridge to interface the GUI with the PMIC and other I²C devices. The firmware is organized in three levels:

1. At first level, the serial and debug adapter (SDA) uses the bootloader—preprogrammed and cannot be reflashed to protect the board—to operate as the main path to flash the functional code of the SDA processor
2. At the second level, the SDA provides a firmware loader for a drag and drop update of the KL25Z MCU firmware
3. At the third level, the KL25Z MCU provides the GUI firmware for converting the USB communication into MCU instructions to control digital I/Os as well as I²C communication to the PMIC

If the FRDM-KL25Z is not loaded with the correct firmware to allow a future software upgrade, the firmware can instead be updated in a few simple steps as outlined below.

Note: The following firmware updates are optional and can be skipped if the firmware is up to date. First, try to connect the FRDM-KL25Z usb connector with the PC, and open the GUI, if the board connects successfully after clicking Start, it means that the firmware does not need to be updated.

Flashing the FRDM-KL25Z Firmware Loader

1. Press the push button to connect the USB cable to the SDA port on the FRDM board, then a new bootloader device should appear on the left pane of the file explorer

   Figure 7. USB Port/SDA Port

   

   Figure 7. USB Port/SDA Port

   
2. Drag the file MSD-DEBUG-FRDM-KL25Z_Pemicro_v118.SDA (located in the KL25Z_FW folder) into the bootloader drive

   Figure 8. KL25Z_FW Folder Example

   

   Figure 8. KL25Z_FW Folder Example

   
3. Next, you will install a new device (FRDM_KL25Z) by disconnecting and reconnecting the USB cable into the SDA port (this time without pressing the push button)

Flashing the GUI Firmware

If a new software or silicon release requires a firmware update on the FRDM-KL25Z freedom board, use the following procedure to upgrade or downgrade the firmware of the freedom board as needed. Note that this procedure is needed only to update the firmware and may be skipped if no change is needed.

1. Connect the USB cable in the SDA port (without holding the pushbutton)
2. Locate the ".bin" GUI driver to be installed, (for example nxp-gui-fw-frdmkl25z-usb_hid-pf8x00_v0.16.bin, drag the file into the FRDM_KL25Z driver)

   Figure 9. PF8X00 Folder Example

   

   Figure 9. PF8X00 Folder Example

   
3. Freedom board firmware will now be successfully loaded

Board Documents

• UM12404 KITPF8150FRDMEVM/KITPF8250FRDMEVM Evaluation Board User Manual
• KITPF8150FRDEVM Schematics
• KITPF8250FRDEVM Schematics
• KITPF8250FRDMEVM Design Files
• KITPF8150FRDMEVM Design Files

Software

• Analog Expert Software and Tools

Additional References

In addition to PF81-PF82, visit:

Product Pages

• i.MX8X: i.MX 8X Family - Arm® Cortex®-A35, 3D Graphics, 4K Video, DSP, Error Correcting Code on DDR
• S32V234: Vision Processor for Front and Surround View Camera, Machine Learning, and Sensor Fusion

Hardware Pages

• Analog Toolbox

Application Pages Automotive

• Automotive Sensor Fusion Systems
• Automotive Vision Systems
• Entry Infotainment/Connected Radio
• Front View Camera
• Gateway
• Intelligent Roadside Unit
• Mid/High-End Infotainment Head Unit
• Surround View and Sense Park Assist System Industrial
• Vision, Advanced Sensing, and Processing Board Networking
• Small Business Router

Forums

Connect with other engineers and get expert advice on designing with the KITPF8X50FRDMEVM evaluation board using our community sites.

• Power Management