Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EV5496-R-00A

Overview

EV5496-R-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is an evaluation board for the MP5496 power management IC, integrating four buck converters (up to 4.5A), five LDOs, I²C/OTP programmability, and a 1.5MHz fixed-frequency COT control architecture. It supports flexible power sequencing, hiccup-mode OCP, thermal shutdown, and ±4kV HBM ESD protection - validated for use with 3.3V input in cable modems, IP cameras, and SSDs.

For engineers reviewing the EV5496-R-00A datasheet, EV5496-R-00A pinout, EV5496-R-00A application, or EV5496-R-00A equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of MP5496's multi-rail power delivery, programmable startup timing, efficiency vs. load performance, and I²C register-level configuration in real-world embedded systems.

Technical Context

The EV5496-R-00A implements full-system evaluation of the MP5496 PMIC, which integrates four synchronous step-down converters (Buck1–Buck4) and five LDOs on a single 28-pin QFN package. Its hardware design includes pre-populated 0805/0603 passives, Wurth power inductors (1μH/1.5μH), tactile power-on/off buttons, and dedicated test points for all rails and control signals.

Board-level features include I²C slave address 0x69, OTP version 0004, default 1.5MHz switching frequency, 100ms RSTO delay, and push-button timer (2 seconds). All DC/DC and LDO outputs are accessible via screw terminals and test pads, supporting both no-load and full-load transient testing per MPS specification.

Key Specifications

Availability

EV5496-R-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for cable modem development, IP camera power validation, and SSD reference design requiring stable component supply, traceable evaluation hardware, and documented test results under 3.3V input conditions.

Supply support for EV5496-R-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 analog and power ICs, with core expertise in DC/DC conversion, LED drivers, and integrated power modules.

The MP5496 product line delivers highly integrated, programmable power management solutions for space-constrained consumer and industrial applications - designed to replace discrete multi-IC power trees with single-chip, sequenced, and configurable rail generation.

FAQ

What input voltage range is supported by the EV5496-R-00A?

The board is validated for 3.0V to 3.6V input only, matching the MP5496's specified VIN range. Applying 5V directly risks damaging the MP5496GR-0000 IC and violates the board's design intent - no level-shifting or overvoltage protection is implemented on VIN.

Does the EV5496-R-00A support real-time I²C reconfiguration of output voltages?

Yes - all four buck and five LDO output voltages can be dynamically adjusted via I²C using the MP5496's register map. Default values (e.g., Buck1 = 1.0V, LDO2 = 3.0V) are stored in OTP but fully overrideable during operation without reset.

How is power sequencing controlled on this evaluation board?

Sequencing is implemented via MP5496's internal OTP or live I²C commands. The board exposes nPBIN (power button input), RSTO (reset output), and timing slots (0–6 ms delays) - enabling precise turn-on/turn-off order across nine regulated rails with sub-millisecond resolution.

Are test points provided for all power rails and control signals?

Yes - each buck output (Buck1–Buck4), LDO output (LDO1–LDO5), VSW nodes, VIN, GND, nPBIN, RSTO, and I²C lines have dedicated test points or solder pads. No probing requires soldering or modification - all critical nodes are accessible with standard 100-mil pitch probes.

Can the EV5496-R-00A be used to validate short-circuit protection behavior?

Yes - the board includes SCP test waveforms in its documentation (pages 8–9), showing entry and recovery behavior under no-load and full-load conditions. Each buck converter exhibits hiccup-mode response with automatic restart after fault clearance.

Is the bill of materials (BOM) publicly available for this evaluation board?

Yes - the complete BOM is included in the official EV5496-R-00A Rev. 1.0 document (page 4), listing all 22 components including Murata capacitors (GRM21BR60J226ME39L), Wurth inductors (744311100), and the MP5496GR-0000 IC - enabling accurate replication and component sourcing.