Analog Devices Inc./Maxim Integrated MAX77961BEVKIT12#

Overview

MAX77961BEVKIT12# from Maxim Integrated is a fully assembled and tested evaluation kit designed to characterize the MAX77961B 6A USB Type-C® buck-boost battery charger IC for 2S Li-ion battery systems. It supports input voltage range of 3.5V–25.4V, delivers up to 6A charge current, implements JEITA-compliant thermal regulation via on-board dummy thermistors, and enables USB On-The-Go (OTG) functionality through configurable jumpers.

For engineers reviewing the MAX77961BEVKIT12# datasheet, MAX77961BEVKIT12# pinout, MAX77961BEVKIT12# application, or MAX77961BEVKIT12# equivalent, this kit provides immediate hardware access to register-level control, real-time charging profile logging, I²C-based GUI-driven configuration, and validation of 2S battery charging behavior under variable input and thermal conditions.

Technical Context

The MAX77961BEVKIT12# implements the MAX77961B IC in its default 2S battery configuration (J8 set to 1–2), using a 1.5µH power inductor (PA5003.152NLT) and integrated FETs to support buck-boost operation across wide VIN and VBAT ranges. It integrates the FT2232HL USB-to-I²C bridge (U2), MAX14611 level shifter (U4), and dual MAX8512 LDOs (U5/U6) to enable robust host communication and local rail generation.

Hardware features include jumper-selectable OTG_EN, STBY, DISQBAT, and thermal emulation (THM via R39 potentiometer or fixed 10kΩ), along with test points for CHGINS, BATSP/BATSN, DCIN, and critical analog signals. The board ships with Windows GUI software supporting register read/write, protection unlock sequence, and real-time status monitoring via slave address 0xD2.

Key Specifications

Availability

MAX77961BEVKIT12# is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for USB-C portable power design, battery management system (BMS) validation, and USB OTG reference implementation requiring stable component supply and full production traceability.

Supply support for MAX77961BEVKIT12# 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

Maxim Integrated (now part of Analog Devices) is a semiconductor company specializing in high-performance analog, mixed-signal, and power management solutions for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

The MAX77961B product line targets compact, high-efficiency USB-C battery charging in space-constrained portable electronics - delivering integrated FETs, JEITA thermal control, and flexible I²C configurability for 2S/3S Li-ion systems.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the MAX77961BEVKIT12#?

The MAX77961BEVKIT12# is a fully assembled evaluation kit that enables hardware validation and firmware development for the MAX77961B 6A USB Type-C buck-boost battery charger IC. It allows engineers to configure charging parameters, monitor real-time battery profiles, verify JEITA thermal compliance, and test USB OTG functionality - all using the included Windows GUI and pre-installed firmware. The MAX77961BEVKIT12# is specifically configured for 2S Li-ion battery evaluation per J8 jumper default position.

How does the MAX77961BEVKIT12# differ from the MAX77961BEVKIT06#?

The MAX77961BEVKIT12# is configured for 2S battery operation (J8 = 1–2), uses a 1.5µH inductor (PA5003.152NLT), and incorporates R5 = 69.8kΩ for CNFG biasing. In contrast, the MAX77961BEVKIT06# is configured for 3S operation (J8 = 2–3), uses a 3.3µH inductor (PA5007.332NLT), and employs R5 = 8.66kΩ. Both kits evaluate the same MAX77961B IC but target different battery stack voltages and require distinct inductor and resistor selections to match their respective configurations.

Does the MAX77961BEVKIT12# support USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) negotiation?

No - the MAX77961BEVKIT12# does not implement USB-PD protocol negotiation. It accepts a fixed DC input (3.5V–25.4V) via the DCIN terminals and relies on external USB-PD source or adapter to deliver appropriate voltage/current. The kit evaluates the MAX77961B's internal buck-boost regulation, charge control, and OTG output functions, but USB-PD communication must be handled upstream by a dedicated PD controller not included on the board.

Can the MAX77961BEVKIT12# be used to evaluate the MAX77960B IC?

No - the MAX77961BEVKIT12# contains the MAX77961BEFV12+ IC (6A variant) and is physically and electrically optimized for that device, including inductor selection (1.5µH), current-sense resistor values, and GUI firmware mapping. While both ICs share pinout and register structure, the MAX77961BEVKIT12# is not validated for use with the MAX77960B (3A variant); separate kits (e.g., MAX77960BEVKIT12#) are designated for that purpose.

What software is required to operate the MAX77961BEVKIT12#?

The MAX77961BEVKIT12# requires the official MAX77960/MAX77961 EV Kit GUI software, downloadable from Analog Devices' product pages for MAX77961B under "Design Resources". It runs on Windows 7 or newer, depends on .NET Framework 4.5+, and communicates via USB using the on-board FT2232HL chip. The GUI enables register read/write, protection unlock (Charger Configurations 6), real-time status monitoring, and charge profile logging - all without modifying the MAX77961BEVKIT12# hardware.