STMicroelectronics EVAL-L9301

Overview

EVAL-L9301 from STMicroelectronics is an evaluation board designed to validate the L9301 smart power driver IC for automotive ABS solenoid valve control. It supports 5–18 V battery input, features 8 low-side and 4 high-side + 4 low-side configurable drivers, SPI-based configuration/diagnosis, TTL-compatible logic inputs, and ISO pulse circuit protection.

For engineers reviewing the EVAL-L9301 datasheet, EVAL-L9301 pinout, EVAL-L9301 application, or EVAL-L9301 equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of L9301's PWM/SPI-controlled valve driving, overcurrent diagnostics (latched/unlatched per channel), thermal/short/open-load protection, and integration with SPC560P-DISP discovery boards or generic MCUs via adapter.

Technical Context

The EVAL-L9301 implements a hardware interface layer between microcontrollers (e.g., SPC560P) and the L9301 smart power IC, exposing all critical pins via test points and jumpers. It routes SPI signals (MOSI/MISO/SCK/CS), reset control, and power domains (V_BAT: 5–18 V, V_DD: 4.75–5.25 V) with ISO pulse-rated protection on input lines.

It supports four output configurations - including parallel-input PWM mode and SPI-commanded on/off - and enables real-time diagnosis feedback (overcurrent, temperature, open load, short-to-rail) through LabVIEW GUI (L9301-PICTUS.exe) and firmware (out.elf) preloaded for SPC560P-DISP.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVAL-L9301 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive ABS system development, ECU validation labs, and embedded safety-critical valve control prototyping requiring stable component supply and traceable evaluation hardware.

Supply support for EVAL-L9301 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

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, power ICs, sensors, and automotive-grade analog devices.

The EVAL-L9301 belongs to ST's automotive smart power evaluation kit family, engineered specifically to accelerate functional safety validation and drive-stage characterization of L9301 in brake-by-wire and ABS solenoid applications.

FAQ

Is the SPC560P-DISP board included with EVAL-L9301?

No. The SPC560P-DISP microcontroller discovery board is not included in the EVAL-L9301 kit. The board is designed for direct connection to SPC560P-DISP via its expansion header, but users must procure that board separately as specified in the system requirements section of the data brief.

What software tools are required to operate EVAL-L9301?

Operation requires LabVIEW Runtime Engine and UDE Visual Platform for firmware flashing and GUI interaction. The kit includes out.elf firmware for SPC560P-DISP and L9301-PICTUS.exe - a LabVIEW-based GUI enabling SPI configuration, real-time diagnostic monitoring, and output control.

Can EVAL-L9301 drive valves without external freewheeling diodes?

Yes. The L9301 IC on the board integrates internal clamp circuitry, allowing it to drive inductive ABS valves (1.14 mH, 4.6 Ω) safely without external freewheeling diodes - though external diodes may be added for enhanced EMI suppression or design margin.

Does EVAL-L9301 support both latched and unlatched overcurrent detection modes?

Yes. Each of the 12 output channels supports independent selection of latched or unlatched overcurrent detection via SPI register configuration, enabling flexible fault-handling strategies - e.g., latch-and-shutdown for critical faults or auto-retry for transient conditions.