Getting Started with the RDGD31603PHSEVM Half-Bridge Evaluation Board

2.1 Board Features

• Capability to perform double pulse and short-circuit tests on Phase U using KITGD3160TREVB and FlexGUI. See Phase U schematics and FlexGUI Pulse tab
• Evaluation board designed for and populated with GD3160 Gate Drivers and protection circuitry
• Capability to connect to Hybrid Drive type SiC specific modules for full three-phase evaluation and development
• Daisy chain SPI communication (three high-side and three low-side gate drivers)
• Variable fly-back VCC power supply with GND reference and -3.9 V VEE supply
• Easy access power, ground, and signal test points
• 2×32 PCIe socket for interfacing MCU control (MPC5775B/E-EVB, MPC5777C-DEVB or MPC57744P)
• Optional connection for DC bus voltage monitoring
• Phase current feedback connections
• Resolver signal connector

2.2 Board Description

The RDGD31603PHSEVM is a fully functional three-phase inverter evaluation board populated with six GD3160 gate drivers with fault management and supporting circuitry. This board supports SPI daisy chain communication for programming and communication with three high-side gate drivers and three low-side gate drivers independently.

2.3 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.

2.4 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.

Figure 1. Translator board

2.5 Board Components

Overview of the RDGD31603PHSEVM half-bridge evaluation board

Software for RDGD31603PHSEVM 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

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 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

3.2 Configure the FRDM-KL25Z Microcode

Figure 2. FRDM-KL25Z setup and interface

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. If the board appears as KL25Z, you may go to step 6
3. Download the Firmware Apps .zip archive from the PEmicro OpenSDA webpage. 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
   1. From the FlexGUI install directory, which is located in the flexgui-app-des-gd31xx\bin0 folder and is named in the form “flexgui-fw-KL25Z_usb_hid_gd31xxC_vx.x.x.bin”
   2. 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 RDGD31603PHSEVM
7. With the KL25Z still plugged through the OpenSDA0 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 KL25Z0
   1. 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.

4.1 Configure the Hardware

RDGD31603PHSEVM with KITGD3160TREVB attached as shown in the following figure utilizing Windows based PC and FlexGUI software.

Note: Double pulse and short-circuit testing can be conducted on Phase U only.

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 and short-circuit testing, Phase U only

Figure 3. Evaluation setup using KITGD3160TREVB and FlexGUI

Figure 4. Evaluation setup using KITGD3160TREVB and FlexGUI

Figure 5. Evaluation setup using MPC5744P MCU dev kit

Board Information

• RDGD31603PHSEVM Schematics  
• RDGD31603PHSEVM Design files  
• UM11603, RDGD31603PHSEVM Three-Phase Inverter Reference Resign User Manual  

Additional 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

• GD3100
• GD3160

Application Pages

• Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Powertrain

Tool Pages

• EV-INVERTER

Hardware Pages

• Analog Toolbox

Software Pages

• Analog Expert Software and Tools

Forums

Connect with other engineers and get expert advice on designing with the RDGD31603PHSEVM on one of our community sites.

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