STMicroelectronics EVAL-VNH5019-P1

Overview

EVAL-VNH5019-P1 from STMicroelectronics is an evaluation board for the VNH5019A-E automotive-grade fully integrated H-bridge motor driver IC. It supports bidirectional DC motor control up to 30 A continuous current, operates from 5.5 V to 24 V supply, features PWM switching up to 20 kHz, and provides real-time current sensing via analog output (CS pin) with ±19% ratio drift over temperature. It is designed for validating motor control in automotive seat adjusters, HVAC actuators, and power window modules.

For engineers reviewing the EVAL-VNH5019-P1 datasheet, EVAL-VNH5019-P1 pinout, EVAL-VNH5019-P1 application, or EVAL-VNH5019-P1 equivalent, this board enables rapid functional validation of the VNH5019A-E's dual half-bridge operation, fault diagnostics (ENA/DIAGA & ENB/DIAGB), reverse battery protection interface (CP & VBAT), and thermal shutdown behavior under real load conditions.

Technical Context

The EVAL-VNH5019-P1 implements the full reference circuit topology for the VNH5019A-E IC, including external reverse-polarity N-MOSFET gate drive via CP pin, dedicated heat-slug thermal pads (Heat Slug1/2/3), and independent ground paths (GNDA/GNDB) per half-bridge leg. It supports both clockwise (INA high, INB low) and counter-clockwise (INA low, INB high) motor direction control with brake and coast modes defined by truth table logic.

It exposes all critical control and diagnostic signals - INA, INB, PWM, ENA/DIAGA, ENB/DIAGB, CS, CS_DIS, and CP - with onboard test points and jumper-configurable pull-up resistors on ENx pins. The board integrates recommended decoupling capacitors (100 nF + 10 µF per VCC rail) and current-sense resistor networks for analog voltage readback from CS output.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVAL-VNH5019-P1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive actuator development, industrial linear motion control, and robotics prototyping requiring stable component supply and production-representative validation.

Supply support for EVAL-VNH5019-P1 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, Switzerland, specializing in automotive, industrial, and power management solutions with broad IP in intelligent power technologies.

The EVAL-VNH5019-P1 belongs to ST's Automotive Power IC Evaluation Platform family, engineered to accelerate qualification of VIPower® M0-based motor drivers in safety-critical vehicle subsystems.

FAQ

Does EVAL-VNH5019-P1 support standalone operation without a microcontroller?

Yes - it includes onboard DIP switches and pushbuttons to manually assert INA, INB, and PWM signals, enabling basic direction and speed testing without external MCU. All logic inputs accept 3 V CMOS-compatible levels, and ENx pins feature configurable pull-up resistors for enable/disable control.

What thermal performance can be expected when operating at 30 A continuous current?

With proper PCB copper area (≥2000 mm² per heat slug) and forced airflow, the board sustains 30 A continuous per leg while keeping junction temperature below 150 °C. Thermal resistance from junction-to-case is 1.7 °C/W (HSD) and 3.2 °C/W (LSD), verified per MultiPowerSO-30 layout guidelines in ST AN4721.

How is reverse battery protection implemented on this evaluation board?

The board routes the CP pin to the gate of an external N-channel PowerMOSFET (not included), with VBAT connected to its source and drain tied to VCC. When battery polarity is reversed, the MOSFET remains off, blocking current flow and protecting downstream circuitry - consistent with ST's recommended Option A configuration in Figure 4 of the datasheet.

Can EVAL-VNH5019-P1 be used to validate current-sense calibration across temperature?

Yes - the CS pin delivers a proportional current (K0/K1/K2 ranges specified from –40 °C to +150 °C), and the board provides test points for measuring analog voltage across user-selected sense resistors. Drift data (±14–19%) is documented in Table 10, enabling end-of-line calibration verification.