Renesas ISL8130EVAL3Z

Overview

ISL8130EVAL3Z from Renesas Electronics is an evaluation board designed for high-accuracy, low-side current sensing up to ±10A using a 1mΩ Kelvin-connected sense resistor and ISL28134 zero-drift amplifier. It operates at +5V supply, delivers 2.5V zero-current output referenced to a 2.5V voltage reference (ISL21090), and supports bi-directional sensing for EV battery charge/discharge monitoring.

For engineers reviewing the ISL8130EVAL3Z datasheet, ISL8130EVAL3Z pinout, ISL8130EVAL3Z application, or ISL8130EVAL3Z equivalent, this page provides verified layout details, calibrated current-to-voltage conversion (ISENSE = (VOUT − 2.5V)/0.0635), thermal limits (4W max sense resistor dissipation), ±5mA resolution, and PCB-level design constraints including 2oz copper traces and 2512-format parallel resistors.

Technical Context

The ISL8130EVAL3Z implements a precision low-side current sensing architecture centered on the ISL28134 amplifier (gain = 63.5 V/V, bandwidth = 10 kHz) and ISL21090 2.5V reference. Its Kelvin-sense layout minimizes PCB trace resistance error by routing sense voltage pickup at the center of current density distribution across four parallel 4mΩ resistors.

Common-mode input is elevated ~40mV above GND to enable bidirectional operation, allowing VOUT to swing symmetrically around 2.5V for ±10A sensing. Thermal design uses 2oz copper top/bottom layers with wide (25mm), short (40mm) current paths and multiple vias to limit temperature rise under sustained load.

Key Specifications

Availability

ISL8130EVAL3Z is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for electric vehicle battery management systems, industrial motor drives, and programmable power supply current monitoring requiring stable component supply, repeatable test validation, and production-grade evaluation reproducibility.

Supply support for ISL8130EVAL3Z 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, and mixed-signal solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT applications.

The ISL8130EVAL3Z belongs to Renesas' precision analog evaluation platform family, engineered to accelerate validation of current sensing subsystems in safety-critical and high-reliability power conversion designs.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the ISL8130EVAL3Z?

The ISL8130EVAL3Z is a dedicated evaluation board for low-side current sensing using the ISL28134 zero-drift amplifier and ISL21090 precision voltage reference. It enables rapid prototyping and characterization of ±10A bidirectional current measurements with calibrated output scaling. The ISL8130EVAL3Z provides a validated hardware reference for integrating high-accuracy sensing into battery management or motor control systems.

Does the ISL8130EVAL3Z support bidirectional current sensing?

Yes, the ISL8130EVAL3Z supports bidirectional current sensing via a 40mV common-mode offset that centers the amplifier's input at ~40mV above ground. This allows the output voltage (VOUT) to swing symmetrically around 2.5V - increasing for positive current flow and decreasing for reverse flow. The ISL8130EVAL3Z thus enables accurate monitoring of charging/discharging cycles in EV batteries and H-bridge motor drivers.

What is the maximum current the ISL8130EVAL3Z can measure reliably?

The ISL8130EVAL3Z is rated for ±10A recommended operation, based on thermal limits of the PCB copper and sense resistor assembly. While amplifier saturation occurs near ±40A, sustained currents above ±10A risk trace heating, copper delamination, and measurement error from parasitic resistance. The ISL8130EVAL3Z achieves ±2% accuracy and ±5mA resolution within its ±10A operating envelope.

How is the current value calculated from the ISL8130EVAL3Z output voltage?

Current is calculated using the calibrated formula ISENSE = (VOUT − 2.5V) / 0.0635, where VOUT is measured at the board's output terminal. This linear relationship derives from the ISL28134's fixed 63.5 V/V gain and the 2.5V reference bias. The ISL8130EVAL3Z eliminates need for external calibration - the equation applies directly to raw ADC readings when interfaced with 5V-supplied converters.

What are the key layout features of the ISL8130EVAL3Z that improve sensing accuracy?

The ISL8130EVAL3Z uses a Kelvin connection with sense voltage taps placed at the geometric center of the current path to reject PCB trace resistance error. It employs 2oz copper on both top and bottom layers, wide (25mm) and short (40mm) current-carrying traces, and multiple thermal vias to minimize temperature gradients. The ISL8130EVAL3Z also integrates four parallel 2512 resistors to distribute heat and maintain stable 1mΩ resistance under load.