Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EV28310-C-00A

Overview

EV28310-C-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is an evaluation board for the MP28310GC monolithic power management IC, integrating a 300mA step-down switcher and a 100mA LDO in a CSP-12 (1.2mm × 1.6mm) package. It supports input voltages from 2.0V to 5.5V, delivers selectable output voltages (1.2V–3.3V for buck, 1.8V–3.0V for LDO), and achieves ultra-low quiescent current (500nA buck / 300nA LDO) for battery-powered wearables and IoT edge nodes.

For engineers reviewing the EV28310-C-00A datasheet, EV28310-C-00A pinout, EV28310-C-00A application, or EV28310-C-00A equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of dual-output power sequencing, COT control transient response, low-I_Q efficiency down to µA loads, and configurable voltage selection via five tact switches per regulator stage.

Technical Context

The EV28310-C-00A implements the MP28310GC's dual-regulator architecture: a constant-on-time (COT) synchronous buck converter (1.5MHz CCM, 100% duty cycle dropout) paired with a separate low-noise LDO. Both regulators share independent CTRL pin logic (3-bit for buck, 2-bit for LDO) enabling discrete voltage selection without external resistors.

Board-level design includes optimized layout for low EMI: 10µF input/output capacitors for the buck stage, 1µF for the LDO, a 2.2µH shielded inductor (DFE201612P-2R2M), and tactile switches directly routing CTRL signals to VIN or GND - matching the IC's internal pull-up/pull-down logic per datasheet Table 1.

Key Specifications

Availability

EV28310-C-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for wearable electronics development, IoT sensor node validation, and portable medical instrument power architecture testing requiring stable component supply and fast time-to-test.

Supply support for EV28310-C-00A includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in high-performance power management solutions, with core expertise in DC/DC conversion, LED drivers, and motor control ICs.

The MP28310 product line targets ultra-low-power battery-operated systems, delivering integrated buck+LDO functionality in sub-2mm² CSP packages to minimize PCB area and extend runtime in space-constrained edge devices.

FAQ

What input voltage range does the EV28310-C-00A support?

The board accepts 2.0V to 5.5V on both VIN1 (buck input) and VIN2 (LDO input), as specified in the MP28310GC datasheet. When using the LDO alone, VIN2 must exceed 2.0V; when cascading (LDO powered from VOUT1), VIN1 must be ≥ VOUT1 + headroom (e.g., ≥2.8V for 2.5V buck output).

How are output voltages selected on this evaluation board?

Voltage selection is implemented via five tact switches: CTRL1–CTRL3 set the buck output (7 options including disable), while CTRL4–CTRL5 set the LDO output (3 options plus disable). Each switch connects its CTRL pin to either VIN (logic high) or GND (logic low), matching the truth table in the reference design documentation.

Does the board include all components needed for functional testing?

Yes - the BOM lists all populated components: MP28310GC IC, 2.2µH inductor (Murata DFE201612P-2R2M), four ceramic capacitors (two 10µF, two 1µF), one 100kΩ resistor, and five tact switches. No external parts are required to demonstrate regulated outputs at any supported voltage.

Can the buck and LDO operate independently or only in cascade?

Both configurations are supported. The schematics show standalone operation (Figure 3) and cascade mode (Figure 2, where VIN2 = VOUT1). Independent operation requires separate input sources for VIN1 and VIN2; cascade mode enables efficient two-stage regulation with shared input, validated in the "Buck and LDO" test waveform (Page 9).

What is the purpose of the PG1 pin on the MP28310GC, and is it accessible on the board?

PG1 is the power-good indicator for the buck converter, asserted high when VOUT1 is within ±5% regulation. It is routed to the test point labeled "PG1" on the board (see schematic Figure 1), allowing direct oscilloscope monitoring of startup timing, fault detection, and sequencing verification.

Are efficiency measurements provided for different load conditions?

Yes - Page 2 includes an efficiency vs. load current plot (0.001–100mA) across six input voltages (2V–5V) at VOUT1 = 1.8V. Measured peak efficiency exceeds 90% at 10mA with VIN = 3.6V, and >75% is maintained down to 10µA load, confirming ultra-low-I_Q performance.