Monolithic Power Systems Inc. EVM3690-50A-BF-00A

Overview

EVM3690-50A-BF-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is a 10 cm × 10 cm × 1.5 cm evaluation board designed to demonstrate the MPM3690-50A dual-channel synchronous step-down power module, supporting 3.2–16 V input and delivering up to 25 A per channel at 1.2 V output with 500 kHz default switching frequency and 91.1% peak efficiency.

For engineers reviewing the EVM3690-50A-BF-00A datasheet, EVM3690-50A-BF-00A pinout, EVM3690-50A-BF-00A application, or EVM3690-50A-BF-00A equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of dual-output high-current DC/DC conversion in telecom infrastructure, server VRMs, and FPGA/ASIC core power delivery under real thermal and transient load conditions.

Technical Context

The EVM3690-50A-BF-00A implements the MPM3690-50A BGA module (16 mm × 16 mm × 5.18 mm), which integrates dual COT-controlled buck regulators with internal MOSFETs, compensation, and current-sense circuitry. Each channel supports independent enable (EN1/EN2), power-good (PG1/PG2), and frequency-setting (FSET1/FSET2) terminals.

It features dual independent feedback loops (FB1/FB2), voltage sense (VS1P/VS1N, VS2P/VS2N), and ramp compensation (RAMP1/RAMP2) for stable operation across 400–1000 kHz. The board includes full input/output filtering (22 µF × 8 ceramic + 100 µF polymer + 330 µF tantalum), dynamic load test points, and mode selection jumpers (PMODE/MODE).

Key Specifications

Availability

EVM3690-50A-BF-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for telecom base station power design, AI accelerator card development, high-density server PSU validation, and industrial FPGA power sequencing requiring stable component supply and documented reference performance.

Supply support for EVM3690-50A-BF-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, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Kirkland, WA.

The EVM3690-50A-BF-00A belongs to MPS's high-current integrated power module evaluation platform family, engineered to accelerate adoption of their monolithic dual-output buck modules in datacenter, networking, and edge computing applications demanding compact, thermally robust, and transient-responsive power solutions.

FAQ

What input voltage range is supported, and is external bias required?

The EVM3690-50A-BF-00A accepts 3.2 V to 16 V input. When VIN falls below 4 V, an external 3.3 V VCC supply must be applied to ensure proper internal regulator operation-this is explicitly required per the board's quick start guide and performance notes.

Can both channels operate simultaneously at full 25 A load?

Yes. Thermal test data confirms that with IOUT1 = IOUT2 = 25 A, case temperature reaches 104°C at 28°C ambient with no forced airflow-validating simultaneous full-load operation. Efficiency curves and transient waveforms in the documentation are captured under dual-channel active conditions.

How is switching frequency configured on this evaluation board?

Each channel's frequency is set independently using resistors R3 (FSET1) and R9 (FSET2), connected between the respective FSET pin and AGND. Default values yield 500 kHz; changing either resistor adjusts its channel's frequency within 400–1000 kHz per the MPM3690-50A datasheet.

What is the purpose of the VOSENSE and VOGNDSEN terminals?

VOSENSE and VOGNDSEN provide Kelvin sensing for each output, enabling precise regulation by feeding back voltage directly at the load point-critical for maintaining ±1% output accuracy under high-current PCB trace IR drops. These terminals must be used instead of direct VOUT/GND for accurate measurement.

Does the board include dynamic load capability?

No. While the schematic shows optional dynamic load circuit placeholders (Trans_IO1/Trans_CTRL1, Trans_IO2/Trans_CTRL2), the BOM and physical layout confirm no dynamic load components are populated. Load testing requires an external electronic load connected to VOUT1/VOUT2 terminals.

Are the PMODE and MODE jumpers pre-configured?

Yes. Per the schematic and quick start guide, PMODE and MODE jumpers (TP1–TP4) are factory-set to enable standard COT control mode. Altering these settings changes regulation behavior (e.g., to forced PWM or ultrasonic mode), but default configuration supports fast transient response and stability out-of-box.