Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EVL5520-QJ-00A

Overview

EVL5520-QJ-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is an evaluation board for the MP5520GQJ power-outage protection management IC, designed to validate dual e-fuse current limiting (up to 7A), bidirectional buck-boost energy transfer (VSTRG configurable up to 30V), and power-sharing converter operation in enterprise SSD applications requiring PLP (Power-Loss Protection) compliance.

For engineers reviewing the EVL5520-QJ-00A datasheet, EVL5520-QJ-00A pinout, EVL5520-QJ-00A application, or EVL5520-QJ-00A equivalent, this board enables functional validation of input voltage monitoring (VIN1: 8.75–16V, VIN2: 2.75–5.7V), digital interface configuration (I²C slave address 33h/35h/37h), and dying-gasp timing control via programmable release thresholds (VDET1/VDET2), storage voltage (FBS), and bus regulation (FBR).

Technical Context

The EVL5520-QJ-00A implements a complete reference design for the MP5520GQJ, integrating dual high-side e-fuses with reverse-current blocking, a constant-on-time (COT) controlled bidirectional buck-boost converter for capacitor charging/discharging, and a digitally configurable power-sharing converter supporting both buck- and boost-sharing modes between VIN1 and VIN2 rails.

It provides analog sensing of VIN1/VIN2, IIN1/IIN2, and PIN1/PIN2 via internal ADC, supports storage capacitor health monitoring, and enables full register-level control-including PLP buck valley current limit (1A/3A/5A/7A), switching frequency (0.5/1/1.5/2 MHz), and VBUS_RLS regulation-through I²C using the EVKT-USBI2C-02 interface kit.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVL5520-QJ-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for enterprise SSD qualification, datacenter PLP compliance testing, and industrial UPS subsystem validation requiring stable component supply and traceable evaluation hardware.

Supply support for EVL5520-QJ-00A 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 power management ICs for computing, cloud infrastructure, and automotive applications, with over 20 years of analog design expertise.

The MP5520 product line targets enterprise solid-state drives requiring robust power-loss protection, integrating dual e-fuses, bidirectional energy conversion, and intelligent power sharing in a single monolithic IC to replace multi-chip discrete solutions.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the EVL5520-QJ-00A evaluation board?

The EVL5520-QJ-00A is a fully assembled, tested reference platform for the MP5520GQJ IC, enabling engineers to validate power-loss protection functionality-including dual e-fuse current limiting, bidirectional buck-boost energy transfer to storage capacitors, and dynamic power sharing between two input rails-in real-world SSD and server applications.

How do I configure the storage voltage (VSTRG) and bus release voltage (VBUS_RLS)?

VSTRG is set using resistors R3 and R4 on the FBS pin per Equation (1): VSTRG = (1 + R3/R4) × 0.8 V; VBUS_RLS is set using R7 and R9 on the FBR pin per Equation (4): VBUS_RLS = (1 + R7/R9) × 0.8 V. Recommended resistor values for 12 V, 20 V, and 30 V VSTRG are provided in Table 2 of the user guide.

Can the EVL5520-QJ-00A operate in both SAS and PCIe modes?

Yes - mode selection is controlled via the EN2/MODE jumper (CN1): connect to VCC for SAS mode (dual-input operation with VIN1=12 V and VIN2=5 V), or to GND for PCIe mode (single-input operation with VIN1=12 V only). The board's schematic and quick-start guide detail all required jumpers and connections.

What external components are required to begin testing?

No additional components are required for basic operation: the board includes all critical passives (input/output capacitors, TVS diodes D1/D2, current-sense resistors, and 1.5 µH inductors L1/L2), configured for immediate evaluation. Only external DC supplies (12 V and/or 5 V), a load, and optionally the EVKT-USBI2C-02 kit for register access are needed.

Does the board support real-time monitoring of input parameters?

Yes - the MP5520GQJ integrates an internal ADC that continuously monitors VIN1, VIN2, IIN1, IIN2, and derived power values (PIN1, PIN2), accessible via I²C registers. The EVL5520-QJ-00A exposes SCL/SDA pins and supports GUI-based read/write through the MPS EVKT-USBI2C-02 interface tool.

How is power-sharing behavior verified on this board?

Power-sharing is validated using the onboard test points and oscilloscope waveforms documented in Sections 12–14 of the user guide. By applying step loads to VB1 while monitoring IIN1 and IIN2 with current probes, users can observe real-time redistribution of current between VIN1 and VIN2 in boost-sharing mode or regulated output in buck-sharing standalone mode.