Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EVKT-MACOM

Overview

EVKT-MACOM from Monolithic Power Systems is an end-of-life communication interface kit for MagAlpha magnetic position sensor evaluation, comprising an NXP LPC4370 ARM Cortex-M4 motherboard, TBMA-CONN and EVMA-CONN daughter boards, USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface, and ribbon cabling for SPI-based sensor configuration and real-time angle readback. It enables firmware loading, register-level access, and JSON-based configuration import/export.

For engineers reviewing the EVKT-MACOM datasheet, EVKT-MACOM pinout, EVKT-MACOM application, or EVKT-MACOM equivalent, this kit supports sensor test and evaluation, performance characterization, and production configuration of MagAlpha Gen2/Gen3 sensors including MA100, MA700, MA730, and MA850 via standardized SPI signaling and Macom Application Software on Windows.

Technical Context

The EVKT-MACOM implements a dedicated SPI host interface using the NXP LPC4370 microcontroller to communicate with MagAlpha sensors over MOSI, MISO, SCLK, and CS lines. It supports both 8-pin (TBMA) and 16-pin (EVKT-KNOB) sensor board interconnects via Würth/TE connectors and provides +3.3V power distribution to connected sensor boards.

It operates exclusively with the Windows-only Macom Application Software, enabling auto-discovery of MagAlpha generation (Gen2 or Gen3), real-time 16-bit raw angle readback (0–65535 → 0–360°), resolution reporting (6σ bit count, 3σ degree tolerance), and firmware updates stored in LPC-Link2 flash memory.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVKT-MACOM is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for MagAlpha sensor test and evaluation, performance characterization, and production configuration requiring stable component supply - though it is officially marked End of Life per MPS documentation.

Supply support for EVKT-MACOM 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 mixed-signal ICs for power management, motor control, and sensing applications.

The EVKT-MACOM belongs to MPS's MagAlpha design support ecosystem and was developed specifically to accelerate evaluation and configuration of their magnetic position sensor family across Gen2 (e.g., MA700) and Gen3 (e.g., MA850) devices.

FAQ

Is EVKT-MACOM still in active production?

No. MPS explicitly declares EVKT-MACOM as End of Life and directs users to migrate to EVKT-MagAlpha-MagDiff. No new units are being manufactured, and official support is limited to legacy documentation and software compatibility with existing hardware.

What sensor generations does EVKT-MACOM support?

EVKT-MACOM supports MagAlpha Gen2 sensors (MA100, MA300, MA700, MA750) and Gen3 sensors (MA102, MA302, MA310, MA702, MA710, MA730, MA800, MA820, MA850), confirmed via Macom App's auto-discovery feature during connection initialization.

Can EVKT-MACOM be used with Linux or macOS?

No. The Macom Application Software required for full functionality - including register access, angle visualization, JSON import/export, and firmware updates - is distributed exclusively as a Windows executable (.exe) and has no native Linux or macOS version.

What is the role of the TBMA-CONN and EVMA-CONN daughter boards?

TBMA-CONN interfaces with MagAlpha test boards (TBMA-RD/TBMA-LT) using dual 8-pin connectors, while EVMA-CONN connects to EVKT-KNOB evaluation kits via a 16-pin header. Both provide signal routing, level translation, and +3.3V power delivery from the LPC4370 motherboard to the target sensor board.

Does EVKT-MACOM require external power or drivers?

No external power is needed - the LPC4370 motherboard draws +5V via USB and regulates +3.3V for sensor boards. Windows drivers are included in the Macom App installer; no separate driver package is required beyond standard USB CDC/DFU class support in Windows 10/11.

How is firmware updated on the EVKT-MACOM?

Firmware updates are performed through the Macom App's "Update Firmware" wizard, which delivers new binary images to the LPC4370's internal flash memory over USB. The LPC-Link2 must be configured in flash boot mode using JP1 jumper before initiating the update.