Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EVKT-MEZD81260A-A

Overview

EVKT-MEZD81260A-A from Monolithic Power Systems is an evaluation kit for the mEZD81260A dual-rail/dual-phase digital DC/DC power module, supporting 5–16V input and delivering up to 60A total output current across two independently configurable rails. It includes the EVmEZD81260A-02A-A evaluation board, one mEZD81260A-0000 dual-rail module, and an EVKT-USBI2C-02 USB-to-PMBus dongle - enabling full PMBus-based configuration, real-time telemetry (VIN/VOUT/IOUT/temperature), and fault logging in telecom, server, and FPGA power applications.

For engineers reviewing the EVKT-MEZD81260A-A datasheet, EVKT-MEZD81260A-A pinout, EVKT-MEZD81260A-A application, or EVKT-MEZD81260A-A equivalent, this kit provides hardware validation of dual-rail sequencing, remote voltage sensing, ultrasonic mode operation, and PMBus programmability - with pre-layouted LGA-28 thermal design, differential sense routing, and integrated EEPROM for persistent configuration storage.

Technical Context

The EVKT-MEZD81260A-A implements a complete reference design for the mEZD81260A open-frame module, featuring dual independent 30A rails (or combined 60A single-phase operation) with COT-based digital control, 200kHz–2MHz programmable switching frequency, and PMBus 1.3 compliance at up to 1MHz clock rate. Its PCB layout incorporates dedicated differential remote-sense traces, thermal vias under the LGA-28 package, and isolated PMBus signal routing to maintain signal integrity during high-speed telemetry reads.

It supports both rail-level enable/control (EN1/EN2), power-good signaling (PG1/PG2), and synchronized startup/shutdown via CLK pin daisy-chaining - enabling multi-module timing coordination in high-density POL systems. The included GUI software leverages the module's built-in 8-bit VID DACs, ADCs, and fault auto-record function to validate dynamic load transient response (<10µs recovery), current sharing accuracy (<±3% imbalance), and thermal derating behavior under forced-air cooling.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVKT-MEZD81260A-A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for telecom infrastructure, server VR13/VR14 compliance validation, FPGA core voltage sequencing, and industrial ATE power subsystem development requiring stable component supply and full digital configurability.

Supply support for EVKT-MEZD81260A-A 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-efficiency analog and mixed-signal power solutions, with over 20 years of leadership in DC/DC converters, motor drivers, and digital power management ICs.

The mEZD81260A product line targets high-density, digitally programmable point-of-load (POL) conversion for next-generation computing and networking equipment - emphasizing fast transient response, multi-rail coordination, and seamless integration with system-level PMBus controllers.

FAQ

What is the difference between EVKT-MEZD81260A-A and EVKT-MEZD81260A-B?

EVKT-MEZD81260A-A contains the EVmEZD81260A-02A-A board and mEZD81260A-0000 module configured for dual-rail operation (two independent 30A outputs), while EVKT-MEZD81260A-B includes the EVmEZD81260A-02A-B board and mEZD81260A-0001 module for dual-phase single-output operation (60A combined). Their pinouts, firmware defaults, and jumper configurations differ to match respective topologies.

Does EVKT-MEZD81260A-A support remote voltage sensing?

Yes - the EVmEZD81260A-02A-A evaluation board provides dedicated differential routing for VO1_S+/VO1_S− and VO2_S+/VO2_S− pins, enabling precise remote sensing at the load for both rails. This reduces voltage drop errors and achieves ≤±1% load regulation across 0–30A per rail, as verified in MPS application note AN-129.

Can I reprogram the mEZD81260A module's EEPROM using this kit?

Yes - the included EVKT-USBI2C-02 dongle and MPS Virtual Bench V3.0 GUI allow full read/write access to the module's internal EEPROM. Users can store custom configurations (e.g., VOUT settings, soft-start time, fault thresholds) and enable write protection via the WP pin or PMBus command MFR_EEPROM_WRITE_PROTECT (D4h).

What is the purpose of the CLK pin on the evaluation board?

The CLK pin enables synchronized startup/shutdown sequencing across multiple mEZD81260A modules. When daisy-chained, it ensures deterministic power-on delay alignment and prevents inrush current stacking. In single-module use, it must be pulled up to 3.3V with a 10kΩ resistor - floating CLK will cause undefined behavior per MPS datasheet Rev. 0.82, page 14.

Is EVKT-MEZD81260A-A compatible with VR13/VR14 specifications?

Yes - the mEZD81260A module meets VR13.0/VR14.0 requirements for digital voltage regulator (DVR) compliance, including PMBus 1.3 support, programmable slew rates, margining commands (MARGIN_HIGH/MARGIN_LOW), and fast transient response (<10µs) under 50% load steps. The EVKT-MEZD81260A-A board implements all required signal routing and decoupling per Intel VRD guidelines.

What happens when the module enters thermal shutdown?

At 150°C junction temperature, the mEZD81260A initiates thermal shutdown with 20°C hysteresis - disabling switching and asserting PG1/PG2 low. Recovery occurs only after die temperature falls below 130°C. The EVKT-MEZD81260A-A board includes thermal pads and copper pours to facilitate heat transfer, and the GUI logs the event timestamp and temperature in EEPROM for root-cause analysis.