STMicroelectronics STEVAL-ISA092V1

Overview

STEVAL-ISA092V1 from STMicroelectronics is an evaluation board for the L7980 2 A step-down switching regulator IC, designed to demonstrate high-efficiency buck conversion in industrial and consumer power supplies. It supports 4.5 V–28 V input, delivers up to 2 A at adjustable output voltage (0.6 V to VIN), operates at 250 kHz–1 MHz, and features internal soft-start, enable control, overcurrent/thermal protection, and VFQFPN3x3-8L/HSOP8 package compatibility.

For engineers reviewing the STEVAL-ISA092V1 datasheet, STEVAL-ISA092V1 pinout, STEVAL-ISA092V1 application, or STEVAL-ISA092V1 equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of L7980-based 2 A DC-DC designs-especially for FPGA/PLD core supplies, LCD TV bias rails, and industrial chargers-under real thermal and dynamic load conditions with minimal external component count.

Technical Context

The STEVAL-ISA092V1 implements the L7980's voltage-mode PWM architecture with feed-forward compensation, supporting both fixed-frequency operation (250 kHz default) and external synchronization via the SYNCH pin. Its layout integrates a low-ESR ceramic input capacitor, shielded power inductor, and optimized thermal pad grounding for VFQFPN-8 and HSOP-8 variants.

It validates key L7980 functional blocks: programmable soft-start (7.4–9.1 ms), error amplifier with COMP pin access for Type II/III loop compensation, peak-current limiting (2.5–3.5 A), and hysteretic thermal shutdown (150 °C trip, 130 °C recovery). The board includes test points for FB, COMP, EN, FSW, and SYNCH to support loop stability analysis and timing characterization.

Key Specifications

Availability

STEVAL-ISA092V1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for FPGA/PLD core supplies, LCD TV auxiliary rails, and industrial battery chargers requiring stable component supply, fast design validation, and production-ready reference layouts.

Supply support for STEVAL-ISA092V1 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

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader specializing in power management, microcontrollers, and analog ICs, with broad industrial, automotive, and consumer design expertise.

The STEVAL-ISA092V1 belongs to ST's STEVAL evaluation platform family, engineered to accelerate adoption of its high-efficiency DC-DC regulators-specifically targeting space-constrained, thermally demanding applications where L7980's 100% duty cycle and zero-load operation deliver measurable system-level efficiency gains.

FAQ

Does STEVAL-ISA092V1 support both VFQFPN and HSOP package variants of the L7980?

Yes - the board provides dual footprint options: one for the VFQFPN3x3-8L package (R_thJA = 60 °C/W) and another for the HSOP8 package (R_thJA = 40 °C/W), enabling direct thermal performance comparison and package selection based on system-level cooling constraints.

Can the STEVAL-ISA092V1 be used to validate L7980 synchronization across multiple channels?

Yes - the board exposes the SYNCH pin with configurable termination, allowing master/slave configuration between two L7980 devices. When synchronized, phase-shifted switching reduces input ripple RMS current by up to 30%, as confirmed in ST's application note AN4405.

What is the maximum validated output capacitance for stable operation on STEVAL-ISA092V1?

The board is validated with 22 µF × 2 parallel ceramic output capacitors (X7R, 16 V), supporting COUT up to 100 µF total. Larger values require re-tuning of the Type II/III compensation network using the accessible COMP and FB nodes to maintain ≥45° phase margin.

Is the soft-start time adjustable on STEVAL-ISA092V1, and how is it controlled?

Yes - soft-start duration (7.4–9.1 ms) is determined by the L7980's internal 64-step staircase ramp and depends on switching frequency. On STEVAL-ISA092V1, users adjust FSW pin resistance or apply external SYNC to change f_SW, thereby scaling T_SS per Equation 2 in the L7980 datasheet (DocID15181 Rev 7, p.11).