Renesas ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z

Overview

ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z from Intersil is a 6-layer demonstration board implementing a compact 17mm × 17mm, 35A synchronous buck converter using the ISL68201 PWM controller and ISL99140 DrMOS power stage. It supports 4.75V–14.5V input, 0.5V–2.5V output, 400kHz switching frequency, PMBus/SMBus/I²C digital control, and on-board transient load with adjustable di/dt for evaluating fast transient response.

For engineers reviewing the ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z datasheet, ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z pinout, ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z application, or ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z equivalent, this board enables full evaluation of R4™ modulator performance, power sequencing, margining, fault protection (OCP/OVP/OTP), and digital telemetry including real-time IOUT reporting and thermal compensation via PowerNavigator™ software.

Technical Context

The ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z integrates the ISL68201 single-phase synchronous buck controller - featuring proprietary R4™ modulation for sub-100ns load-step response - with the ISL99140 high-frequency DrMOS power stage in an optimized 6-layer PCB layout. The design uses all-ceramic output capacitance, SP-capacitor footprint option, and integrated LDOs to support single-rail operation from VIN.

It implements hardware-configurable operation via PROG1–PROG4 resistor dividers (supporting boot voltage, switching frequency, OCP mode, soft-start slew rate) and full digital configuration via PMBus commands (address 0x60). On-board transient load circuitry enables controlled step-load testing up to 35A with programmable di/dt, while NTC-based thermal monitoring feeds back to the controller for temperature-compensated current limit.

Key Specifications

Availability

ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for digital power system validation, DC/DC converter reference design verification, and PMBus-enabled power architecture development requiring stable component supply and full-feature evaluation capability.

Supply support for ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z 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

Intersil (now part of Renesas Electronics) is a semiconductor company specializing in high-performance analog and power management ICs for computing, communications, and industrial applications.

The ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z belongs to Intersil's digital multiphase and single-phase buck controller evaluation platform family, designed to accelerate adoption of R4™-based digital power solutions in server VRMs, telecom POL converters, and FPGA/ASIC core power supplies.

FAQ

What is the primary purpose of the ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z?

The ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z is a fully assembled 6-layer demonstration board that showcases the combined functionality of the ISL68201 digital PWM controller and ISL99140 DrMOS power stage. It enables engineers to evaluate transient response, PMBus programming, power sequencing, margining, and fault protections without designing a custom PCB. The board ships with all required components, including the ZLUSBEVAL3Z PMBus dongle and USB cable.

Does the ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z require external software to operate?

No - the ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z supports stand-alone operation using hardware configuration pins (PROG1–PROG4) and the front-panel ENABLE switch. However, full digital functionality - including real-time telemetry, dynamic VOUT adjustment, and advanced fault logging - requires Intersil's PowerNavigator™ software running on Windows 7/8/10 and the included ZLUSBEVAL3Z USB-to-PMBus adapter. The ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z defaults to address 0x60 on the PMBus.

What are the key performance metrics validated on the ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z?

The ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z validates peak efficiency of 88.3% at 15A/1VOUT/12VIN and 94.5% at 10A/2.5VOUT/5VIN, output regulation of ±8mV at 1V, and fast transient response with <100ns recovery under 25A/µs load steps. It also demonstrates overcurrent retry/latch modes, overvoltage shutdown, overtemperature protection via NTC feedback, and precise digital IOUT reporting calibrated to 63.875A full scale.

Can the ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z be cascaded with other Intersil evaluation boards?

Yes - the ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z includes cascading PMBus connectors (JP2, JP3, JP9, JP10) enabling multi-rail system-level evaluation. Each board must be assigned a unique PMBus address (via PROG2) to avoid bus conflicts. The board supports standard SMBus/PMBus signaling with pull-up resistors configurable per bus loading, and SALERT pin routing follows Intersil's recommended 20-mil spacing guidelines.

What modifications are needed to change the output voltage to 3.3V or 5V on the ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z?

To configure the ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z for 3.3V or 5V output, specific resistor changes are required per Table 1 in UG068: PROG1 must be adjusted to set correct VBOOT, RSEN1 must be scaled for new OCP threshold (e.g., 62Ω for 30A), and L1/CO5–CO9 must be updated for ripple and stability (e.g., 470nH inductor and higher-voltage-rated 6.3V/100µF ceramics for 5V). The ISL68201-99140DEMO1Z BOM and schematics provide exact values and vendor part numbers for each variant.