Renesas ISL9120IIN-EVZ

Overview

ISL9120IIN-EVZ from Renesas Electronics is an evaluation board designed specifically for the ISL9120IINZ fixed-output 3.3V buck-boost switching regulator. It enables rapid functional validation of input voltage regulation (1.8V–5.5V), 3.3V output delivery up to 800mA, and operation across –40°C to +85°C ambient conditions in battery-powered portable systems.

For engineers reviewing the ISL9120IIN-EVZ datasheet, ISL9120IIN-EVZ pinout, ISL9120IIN-EVZ application, or ISL9120IIN-EVZ equivalent, this board supports quick setup via jumper-selectable EN and BYP modes, on-board test points for VOUT/LX1/LX2/EN monitoring, and direct connection to power supplies and electronic loads using 6-pin headers.

Technical Context

The ISL9120IIN-EVZ implements a hardware-optimized platform for the ISL9120IINZ IC, which uses Intersil's proprietary buck-boost algorithm to maintain regulation when VIN approaches VOUT - critical for Li-ion, Li-polymer, and emerging battery chemistries. Its layout places input/output capacitors adjacent to U1 (W3x3.9E WLCSP) with short ground paths to minimize switching noise.

Functional configuration is managed via two 3-pin jumpers: J3 controls enable (EN tied to VIN or floating), and J4 selects operating mode (BYP tied to GND for forced bypass or open for buck-boost). The board delivers stable 3.3V output without external feedback resistors, as R1 is populated as 0Ω and R2 is DNP per Table 3.

Key Specifications

Availability

ISL9120IIN-EVZ is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for battery-powered portable electronics, wearable health monitors, and IoT edge sensor nodes requiring stable component supply during early-stage power architecture validation.

Supply support for ISL9120IIN-EVZ 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 leader delivering microcontrollers, analog, power, and SoC solutions for automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT applications.

The ISL9120IIN-EVZ belongs to Renesas' legacy Intersil evaluation board portfolio, developed to accelerate adoption of high-efficiency buck-boost regulators targeting next-generation battery-powered systems with tight input-to-output voltage margins.

FAQ

What is the purpose of the ISL9120IIN-EVZ evaluation board?

The ISL9120IIN-EVZ evaluation board is a ready-to-use hardware platform for evaluating the ISL9120IINZ fixed 3.3V buck-boost regulator. It provides immediate access to key signals (VIN, VOUT, LX1, LX2, EN, BYP), test points, and jumper-configurable modes - enabling fast validation of efficiency, transient response, and regulation behavior without custom PCB design. The ISL9120IIN-EVZ is not a production power solution but a development aid.

Does the ISL9120IIN-EVZ support adjustable output voltages?

No - the ISL9120IIN-EVZ is configured exclusively for the ISL9120IINZ IC, which has a factory-trimmed fixed 3.3V output. Unlike the ISL9120IIA-EVZ (which uses R2 to set output voltage from 2.0V to 5.0V), the ISL9120IIN-EVZ populates R1 as 0Ω and leaves R2 as DNP (do not populate), eliminating external feedback. To evaluate adjustable outputs, use ISL9120IIA-EVZ instead.

How do I configure enable and bypass modes on the ISL9120IIN-EVZ?

Enable (EN) is controlled by jumper J3: shorting pins 1–2 connects EN to VIN (active-high enable); leaving it open disables the IC. Bypass (BYP) is controlled by jumper J4: shorting pins 1–2 ties BYP to GND, forcing linear bypass mode (VIN directly to VOUT when VIN ≥ VOUT); open configures normal buck-boost operation. These settings are verified in Figure 7 and Section "Quick Setup Guide" of UG023.

What is the maximum load current the ISL9120IIN-EVZ can deliver reliably?

The ISL9120IIN-EVZ is rated for up to 800mA output current under the condition VIN = 2.5V and VOUT = 3.3V - the most thermally demanding scenario due to high duty cycle and conduction loss. At higher input voltages (e.g., VIN = 4.2V), the board sustains full 1A load per operating range specs, provided proper thermal management and input capacitance (C1 = 150µF tantalum) are maintained as specified in Table 3.

Which IC does the ISL9120IIN-EVZ evaluate, and what package does it use?

The ISL9120IIN-EVZ evaluates the ISL9120IINZ - a fixed 3.3V output buck-boost regulator - mounted in a W3x3.9E WLCSP (wafer-level chip-scale package) footprint. This 16-ball, 0.4mm pitch package is documented in Table 3 and Figure 7 of UG023, and matches the physical layout of U1 on the board. The ISL9120IINZ is functionally identical to the ISL9120 series but differs from ISL9120IIAZ in having non-adjustable feedback.