STMicroelectronics EVAL-L9960T

Overview

EVAL-L9960T from STMicroelectronics is an evaluation board for the L9960T automotive ETC H-bridge IC, designed to drive DC motors in electronic throttle control systems with 4V–28V battery supply, SPI-configurable current limiting (2.5A–8.6A), on-board 5V/1.5A regulator, and real-time diagnostics including short-circuit-to-battery, short-circuit-to-ground, overload, overtemperature, and open-load detection.

For engineers reviewing the EVAL-L9960T datasheet, EVAL-L9960T pinout, EVAL-L9960T application, or EVAL-L9960T equivalent, this board supports standalone testing, integration with SPC56 Discovery+ boards via dedicated firmware, LabVIEW GUI operation, and embedded development using SPC5Studio - all while maintaining compatibility with both 3.3V and 5V control logic levels.

Technical Context

The EVAL-L9960T implements a full-bridge motor driver interface with configurable PWM/DIR input mapping to IN1/IN2 pins, enabling flexible bidirectional control without external heat-sink requirements. It integrates freewheeling diodes and active low-side/high-side transistor switching during freewheeling to minimize power dissipation.

SPI communication enables full configuration of operating modes, current-limit thresholds, and diagnostic readback. Diagnostic coverage includes per-channel fault reporting for short-circuit-to-battery, short-circuit-to-ground, short-circuit overload, overtemperature, and open-load detection in ON state - critical for ASIL-B–aligned automotive ETC applications.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVAL-L9960T is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive electronic throttle control (ETC), industrial DC motor prototyping, and embedded motor control validation requiring stable component supply, traceable sourcing, and long-term design-in support.

Supply support for EVAL-L9960T 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, delivering automotive-grade analog, power, and microcontroller solutions with ISO/TS 16949-certified manufacturing and AEC-Q100 qualification rigor.

The EVAL-L9960T belongs to ST's automotive evaluation board portfolio, specifically engineered to accelerate development and validation of electronic throttle control systems using the L9960/L9960T H-bridge ICs in ASIL-B–compliant designs.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the EVAL-L9960T evaluation board?

The EVAL-L9960T is a hardware platform for evaluating the L9960T automotive H-bridge IC in electronic throttle control applications. It provides complete signal access (SPI, PWM, EN), on-board 5V regulation, diagnostic LED indicators, test points for all I/O, and mechanical compatibility with SPC56 Discovery+ boards - enabling rapid functional validation and embedded software development without custom PCB design.

Does the EVAL-L9960T require an external heat sink during operation?

No, the EVAL-L9960T does not require an external heat sink. Its design leverages the L9960T's integrated freewheeling diodes and active low-side or high-side transistor switching during freewheeling states to reduce power dissipation. Thermal performance has been validated across the full 4V–28V supply range and up to 8.6A current limit under continuous duty, meeting automotive ambient temperature requirements without additional thermal management.

Which microcontroller platforms are officially supported for use with EVAL-L9960T?

The EVAL-L9960T is officially supported with ST's SPC56 Discovery+ family (e.g., SPC560P-DISP) using dedicated firmware and LabVIEW GUI, as well as SPC5Studio-based embedded application examples. It also supports any SPI-capable MCU (3.3V or 5V logic) via direct wiring or simple adaptor, provided it can generate two EN signals, six PWM signals, and read two analog current-sense outputs - as specified in the system requirements document.

How are diagnostic faults reported and accessed on the EVAL-L9960T?

Diagnostic faults - including short-circuit-to-battery, short-circuit-to-ground, short-circuit overload, overtemperature, and open-load - are reported per channel via SPI-readable status registers. The board routes all SPI lines (SCLK, MOSI, MISO, CS) to standard headers, allowing direct connection to host MCUs or PC interfaces. No external ADC or comparator circuitry is needed, as fault states are digitally encoded and accessible through documented register maps in AN4867 and the L9960T datasheet.