Renesas ISL9122AIRN-EVZ

Overview

ISL9122AIRN-EVZ from Renesas Electronics is an evaluation board designed to validate the ISL9122AIRNZ high-efficiency, non-inverting buck-boost DC/DC regulator in DFN8 package. It supports input voltages from 1.8V to 5.5V, delivers up to 500mA output current (when VIN > VOUT > 2.5V), and enables I²C-programmable output voltage (1.8V–5.375V) and dynamic slew rate control for power sequencing in portable electronics.

For engineers reviewing the ISL9122AIRN-EVZ datasheet, ISL9122AIRN-EVZ pinout, ISL9122AIRN-EVZ application, or ISL9122AIRN-EVZ equivalent, this board provides ready-to-use test points (TP1–TP7), dual-header connectors (J1/J2) for Kelvin-sense efficiency measurement, jumper-configurable EN and I²C interface (J4/J5), and preloaded 3.3V default output - accelerating validation of buck-boost regulation, soft-start behavior, and fault-flag response under real load conditions.

Technical Context

The ISL9122AIRN-EVZ implements a complete hardware test platform for the ISL9122AIRNZ IC, featuring a 1µH power inductor (L1), 47µF/16V input capacitor (C1), 22µF/6.3V output capacitor (C3), and precision 0.3Ω current-sense resistor (R4). Its PCB layout follows Renesas' optimized thermal and EMI guidelines, including dedicated inner-layer ground plane, short high-current LX1/LX2 traces, and isolation of SCL/SDA routing from switching nodes.

It exposes all critical signals - VIN, VOUT, LX1, LX2, EN, SCL, SDA, and GND - via through-hole test points (TP1–TP7) and multi-pin headers (J1–J5), enabling direct oscilloscope probing, load transient testing, and register-level I²C interaction using Renesas' official evaluation software. The board operates across –40°C to +85°C ambient temperature with no external cooling required.

Key Specifications

Availability

ISL9122AIRN-EVZ is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for portable medical devices, wearable sensors, IoT edge nodes, and battery-powered industrial controllers requiring stable component supply and rapid power architecture validation.

Supply support for ISL9122AIRN-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 is a global semiconductor leader delivering microcontrollers, analog power, and SoC solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets with emphasis on energy efficiency and functional safety.

The ISL9122A product line targets ultra-low-power, wide-input-range DC/DC conversion in space-constrained portable electronics - specifically engineered to replace linear regulators and discrete buck-boost solutions while minimizing quiescent current and thermal footprint.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the ISL9122AIRN-EVZ?

The ISL9122AIRN-EVZ is a dedicated evaluation board for the ISL9122AIRNZ non-inverting buck-boost regulator. It provides a fully assembled, tested platform with accessible test points, I²C interface headers, and configurable jumpers to validate regulation accuracy, efficiency, transient response, and register-controlled operation modes - eliminating the need for custom prototyping when evaluating this DFN-packaged regulator.

How does the ISL9122AIRN-EVZ differ from the ISL9122AIIN-EVZ?

The ISL9122AIRN-EVZ evaluates the ISL9122AIRNZ variant in DFN8 package (2.5mm × 2.0mm), whereas the ISL9122AIIN-EVZ evaluates the ISL9122AIINZ variant in WLCSP8 package (1.57mm × 1.18mm). Both boards share identical circuit topology, component values, and test point layout but differ in the mounted regulator package and corresponding PCB footprint - making them functionally equivalent for feature validation but not mechanically interchangeable.

Can the ISL9122AIRN-EVZ be used to measure efficiency accurately?

Yes. The ISL9122AIRN-EVZ includes Kelvin-sense connections at J1 (VIN S+/S−) and J2 (VOUT S+/S−), enabling precise input/output voltage measurement without lead resistance error. Combined with its 0.3Ω current-sense resistor (R4) and low-inductance layout, it supports accurate efficiency calculation across load and input voltage ranges - as confirmed by Figure 2 (Maximum Load Current vs Input Voltage) in the official manual R12UZ0080EU0102.

Does the ISL9122AIRN-EVZ support dynamic voltage scaling (DVS)?

Yes. The ISL9122AIRN-EVZ supports dynamic voltage scaling via its onboard I²C interface (J5 header). Using Renesas' evaluation software, users can write to the VSET register (0x11) and adjust the DVSRATE field in CONV_CFG (0x12) to control output voltage ramp-up slew rate - enabling controlled power sequencing for processors and FPGAs that require graded rail transitions.

What is the default output voltage setting on the ISL9122AIRN-EVZ at power-on?

The ISL9122AIRN-EVZ powers up with a default regulated output voltage of 3.3V. This is set by internal register defaults in the ISL9122AIRNZ IC and requires no external configuration. Users can modify this value via I²C using the evaluation software or by writing directly to the VSET register (0x11), provided the minimum 6µF effective output capacitance is maintained per the ISL9122A datasheet requirements.