Nexperia USA Inc. NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL

Overview

NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL from Nexperia is a fully assembled evaluation board for the NBM5100A battery booster IC, designed to extend CR2032 and lithium thionyl chloride battery life by charging supercapacitors up to 5.5 V and delivering up to 150 mA load current via I²C-controlled active mode. It integrates USB-to-I²C bridge, dual-series 470 mF supercapacitors with balance circuitry, programmable load matrix, and breakout DIL converter for prototype integration.

For engineers reviewing the NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL datasheet, NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL pinout, NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL application, or NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL equivalent, this module enables rapid validation of ultra-low-power energy harvesting systems, coin-cell-powered IoT sensors, and autonomous pulse-load applications requiring precise storage capacitor management and ready-signal-triggered discharge control.

Technical Context

The NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL implements the NBM5100A's I²C interface (default address 0x2E), auto-start functionality, and capacitor charge balancing logic. It exposes all critical signals-including VDH output, CAP, BAL, RDY, and START-via test points and headers, supporting both PC GUI-driven evaluation and standalone microcontroller control.

Hardware includes a dedicated USB-to-I²C bridge (FTDI-based), level-shifting circuitry for VDP-referenced I/O, and a configurable load matrix delivering 1–200 mA discrete current steps. The board supports external inductor evaluation and custom capacitor connection via J6, while JP5 and JP6 enforce correct series-capacitor biasing per NBM5100A requirements.

Key Specifications

Availability

NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for ultra-low-power sensor node development, battery-assisted energy harvesting systems, and CR2032-powered wearable device prototyping requiring stable component supply and validated reference design support.

Supply support for NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL 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

Nexperia is a global semiconductor expert focused on high-performance, energy-efficient components for automotive, industrial, and consumer applications, with leadership in logic, discrete, and power management devices.

The NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL belongs to Nexperia's Battery Booster Evaluation Kit product line, engineered specifically to accelerate development of maintenance-free, long-life battery-supplemented systems using coin cells and supercapacitors.

FAQ

What power sources can be used with the NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL?

The board accepts a CR2032 coin cell inserted into BT1 or an external 3 V supply applied to connector J2. JP3 must be closed to connect external input to the NBM's battery supply rail. No other voltage ranges are supported - exceeding 3.6 V risks damage to the NBM5100A IC and onboard components.

How do I enable autonomous (auto-start) mode on this board?

Auto-start mode requires a 10–150 µs high-active pulse applied to SMB connector J5 (Start). The board must be powered (CR2032 or external 3 V), JP2 set to position 2–3 (RDY-driven load), and JP5 closed to engage capacitor balancing. The white LED illuminates when the storage capacitors reach full charge and the NBM5100A enters ready state.

Can I replace the onboard supercapacitors with custom ones?

Yes - J6 provides dedicated + and – terminals for external capacitor connection, usable in parallel with or instead of the onboard 470 mF pair. To use only external capacitors, desolder the onboard units first. Ensure external capacitors are rated ≥5.5 V and configured in series with balanced voltage sharing if replicating NBM5100A's dual-capacitor topology.

Is the NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL compatible with SPI-based control?

No - NEVB-NBM5100A-01UL is hardware-configured for I²C operation only, matching the NBM5100A variant. SPI control is exclusive to the NEVB-NBM5100B-01UL and NEVB-NBM7100B-01UL variants, which feature different jumper defaults (JP1 open), J4 pin mapping, and absence of auto-start circuitry.