Renesas ISL8088EVAL2Z

Overview

The ISL8088EVAL2Z from Renesas Electronics is an evaluation board designed to demonstrate the performance of the ISL8088 dual 800mA synchronous buck regulator in point-of-load applications powered from 2.75V to 5.5V input sources, delivering regulated 2.5V and 1.8V outputs with up to 97% efficiency and ±3% output accuracy.

For engineers reviewing the ISL8088EVAL2Z datasheet, ISL8088EVAL2Z pinout, ISL8088EVAL2Z application, or ISL8088EVAL2Z equivalent, this board supports rapid validation of low-quiescent-current DC/DC conversion, prebiased start-up, external synchronization up to 4MHz, and independent enable control in space-constrained industrial and embedded systems.

Technical Context

The ISL8088EVAL2Z implements the ISL8088IRZ - a dual-channel monolithic synchronous buck converter in a 3mm × 3mm 10-lead DFN package - with internal current-mode compensation, peak current limiting, overtemperature protection, and selectable PFM/PWM operation modes. It supports 100% duty cycle for ultra-low dropout and features independent EN1/EN2 inputs and dedicated PG outputs per channel.

Test setup requires a 0–10V/3A bias supply, electronic loads up to 3A, 100MHz oscilloscope, and signal generator. Board layout emphasizes short FB1/FB2 trace routing to maintain regulation stability, and includes 2.2µH power inductors (TOKO MDT2520-CR2R2M or TDK MLP2520H2R2ST0S1), 10µF X5R output capacitors, and 10pF RF bypass caps for noise suppression.

Key Specifications

Availability

The ISL8088EVAL2Z is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for point-of-load power validation, DC/DC topology prototyping, and low-quiescent-current regulator qualification requiring stable component supply, consistent board revision (Rev A), and traceable RoHS-compliant BOM sourcing.

Supply support for ISL8088EVAL2Z 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

Renesas Electronics Corporation is a global semiconductor manufacturer specializing in microcontrollers, analog power devices, and interface solutions for industrial, automotive, and infrastructure markets.

The ISL8088EVAL2Z belongs to Renesas' high-efficiency DC/DC evaluation platform family, engineered to accelerate adoption of compact, low-I_Q synchronous buck regulators in space- and power-constrained embedded systems.

FAQ

What is the primary purpose of the ISL8088EVAL2Z?

The ISL8088EVAL2Z is a dedicated evaluation board for the ISL8088 dual 800mA synchronous buck regulator IC. It enables engineers to validate performance metrics-including efficiency, load transient response, and PFM/PWM mode behavior-in real-world point-of-load conditions. The board ships with fixed 2.5V and 1.8V outputs and supports external synchronization, making ISL8088EVAL2Z ideal for rapid prototyping of low-power embedded power rails.

Does the ISL8088EVAL2Z support adjustable output voltages?

No, the ISL8088EVAL2Z is configured for fixed outputs: 2.5V on VOUT1 and 1.8V on VOUT2, set by onboard resistor dividers (R2/R3 and R5/R6). While the underlying ISL8088IRZ IC supports adjustable outputs via external feedback resistors, ISL8088EVAL2Z does not include provision for reconfiguration - it is optimized for out-of-box demonstration of specified voltage rails.

What test equipment is required to operate the ISL8088EVAL2Z?

To properly evaluate the ISL8088EVAL2Z, users need a 0–10V/3A DC power supply, electronic loads capable of sinking up to 3A per channel, a 100MHz quad-trace oscilloscope for waveform capture, digital multimeters for DC measurements, and a signal generator for SYNC input testing. These tools are explicitly recommended in the AN1600 user guide to ensure accurate characterization of ISL8088EVAL2Z performance.

How is thermal performance managed on the ISL8088EVAL2Z?

The ISL8088EVAL2Z uses a 2-layer PCB with exposed pad (EP) connection to ground plane for the ISL8088IRZ DFN package, enabling direct heat conduction from the IC's thermal pad. Inductors (MDT2520-CR2R2M or MLP2520H2R2ST0S1) are rated for 1.35A saturation current, and layout minimizes copper loss paths. Thermal performance is validated for continuous 800mA per channel under 2.75–5.5V input, as confirmed in AN1600 Rev 2.00.

Is the ISL8088EVAL2Z RoHS compliant and what is its PCB revision?

Yes, the ISL8088EVAL2Z is RoHS compliant, as confirmed by the bill of materials listing "ROHS" for all components including Murata GRM21BR60J106KE01L capacitors and Panasonic ERJ2RKF1003 resistors. The board is manufactured to Revision A, identified in the PCB designator "ISL8088EVAL2ZREVAPCB", and documented in AN1600 Rev 2.00 dated July 15, 2016.