Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EV6604A-F-00A

Overview

EV6604A-F-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is an evaluation board designed to demonstrate the MP6604A dual H-bridge motor driver IC, supporting 45V input voltage and 2.5A per bridge output current in TSSOP-28EP package. It enables rapid validation of stepper and brushed DC motor control using IN/EN logic interface, with on-board test points, current-sense resistors, and TVS protection.

For engineers reviewing the EV6604A-F-00A datasheet, EV6604A-F-00A pinout, EV6604A-F-00A application, or EV6604A-F-00A equivalent, this board provides verified hardware reference for MP6604A integration, including VCP charge-pump configuration, fault reporting via nFAULT, sleep mode control, and external MCU interfacing through CN1.

Technical Context

The EV6604A-F-00A implements a complete functional test platform for the MP6604A, featuring dual independent H-bridges with separate IN/EN control per channel, integrated charge-pump (CPA/CPB) for high-side gate drive, and real-time current sensing via 100mΩ shunt resistors (R2/R3). It supports 4.5–45V VIN and 3.3V/5V VCC logic supply.

Board-level design includes input TVS (D1), bulk and ceramic decoupling (C1–C8), LED status indicator (LED1), manual control switches (SW1), and configurable jumpers (JP1–JP3) for VCP/VREG selection and reset enable. All critical signals - nSLEEP, nRESET, nFAULT - are routed to test points and connectors.

Key Specifications

Availability

EV6604A-F-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for motor control validation, embedded motion system development, and industrial actuator qualification requiring stable component supply and production-ready reference hardware.

Supply support for EV6604A-F-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 ICs, with expertise in motor drivers, DC/DC converters, and battery management solutions.

The MP6604A product line delivers compact, thermally robust dual H-bridge drivers for precision motion control in space-constrained applications such as robotics, medical pumps, and automated optical equipment.

FAQ

What is the purpose of JP1 and JP2 on the EV6604A-F-00A board?

JP1 selects between internal VREG output or external VCP supply for high-side gate drive; JP2 enables or disables the VREG LDO. These jumpers configure the charge-pump topology to match target motor voltage and ensure reliable MOSFET switching across the full 4.5–45V input range.

Can the EV6604A-F-00A drive stepper motors in microstepping mode?

No - the MP6604A is a dual full-bridge driver with IN/EN logic interface only; it does not integrate current DACs, chopper control, or step/direction inputs required for microstepping. It supports full-step and half-step via external controller sequencing of A/B bridge states.

How is overcurrent protection implemented on this evaluation board?

Overcurrent detection uses two 100mΩ, 1% shunt resistors (R2, R3) placed in the PGNDA and PGNDB paths. Voltage drop across them feeds into the MP6604A's internal current-sense comparator, triggering nFAULT assertion and automatic shutdown when threshold exceeds device specification.

Does the board include thermal monitoring or heatsinking provisions?

The board routes the MP6604A's exposed pad (TSSOP-28EP) to multiple internal copper layers and external GND planes but lacks a dedicated heatsink or thermal sensor. Thermal performance relies on PCB copper area and airflow; operation above 2.5A continuous requires forced convection or derating per MP6604A thermal data.

What logic levels are compatible with the CN1 connector inputs?

CN1 accepts 3.3V or 5V TTL/CMOS logic levels for all control pins (AIN1/AIN2/BIN1/BIN2/nAEN1/nAEN2/nBEN1/nBEN2/nRESET/nSLEEP). Input thresholds are defined by MP6604A's VCC-supplied logic interface, with VIH ≥ 2.0V and VIL ≤ 0.8V at VCC = 3.3V.

Is the nFAULT signal actively driven or open-drain?

nFAULT is an open-drain output per MP6604A specification. On the EV6604A-F-00A, it pulls low during fault conditions and is pulled up to VCC via internal 1kΩ resistor (R9), enabling direct LED indication and MCU interrupt capability without external pull-up.