STMicroelectronics STEVAL-ISA201V1

Overview

STEVAL-ISA201V1 from STMicroelectronics is an evaluation board for the L5987 3 A step-down switching regulator, designed to demonstrate high-efficiency DC-DC conversion in compact industrial and consumer power supplies. It supports input voltages from 2.9 V to 18 V, delivers up to 3 A output current, features adjustable 0.6 V–VIN output voltage, 250 kHz–1 MHz programmable switching frequency, and includes thermal/overcurrent protection with VFQFPN3x3-8L or HSOP8 package compatibility.

For engineers reviewing the STEVAL-ISA201V1 datasheet, STEVAL-ISA201V1 pinout, STEVAL-ISA201V1 application, or STEVAL-ISA201V1 equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of L5987-based buck converter designs-particularly for FPGA/PLD core supply, LCD TV power rails, and low-voltage industrial modules requiring stable 3 A regulation, soft-start control, and synchronization capability.

Technical Context

The STEVAL-ISA201V1 implements the L5987's voltage-mode PWM architecture with internal 0.6 V reference, feedforward-enhanced oscillator, and integrated P-channel high-side MOSFET (R_DS(on) = 140–220 mΩ). It validates real-world performance under dynamic load steps, line transients, and thermal stress across its full 2.9–18 V input range.

Board-level design incorporates optimized layout for EMI suppression, thermal management via exposed-pad packages (R_thJA = 40 °C/W for HSOP8), and configurable compensation networks (Type II/III) supporting both ceramic and polymer output capacitors-enabling stable operation from 0.6 V to 12 V outputs at up to 3 A continuous load.

Key Specifications

Availability

STEVAL-ISA201V1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for FPGA power delivery, LCD TV main rail generation, and industrial PLC I/O module supply requiring stable component supply, fast design iteration, and production-ready thermal validation.

Supply support for STEVAL-ISA201V1 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 over 40 years of automotive- and industrial-grade product development experience.

The STEVAL-ISA201V1 belongs to ST's STEVAL evaluation board family, engineered specifically to accelerate adoption of its high-current monolithic buck regulators-targeting space-constrained, thermally demanding applications in consumer electronics and industrial automation.

FAQ

What input and output capacitor values are pre-populated on the STEVAL-ISA201V1?

The board uses a 47 µF × 2 parallel ceramic input capacitor (X7R, 25 V) and a 220 µF polymer output capacitor (6.3 V) with 10 mΩ ESR. These values are selected to meet RMS current handling, ripple suppression (<50 mVpp), and stability requirements across 250 kHz–1 MHz operation with 3 A loads, as verified in ST Application Note AN4247.

Does the STEVAL-ISA201V1 support synchronization between multiple L5987 devices?

Yes-the board exposes the SYNCH pin and includes test points for master/slave configuration. When two STEVAL-ISA201V1 boards are synchronized via their SYNCH pins, the higher-frequency unit acts as master, enabling phase-shifted switching that reduces input capacitor RMS current by up to 30%, as demonstrated in Figure 12 of the L5987 datasheet (DocID14972 Rev 4).

Can the output voltage be set below 0.6 V using the STEVAL-ISA201V1?

No-the L5987's internal reference is fixed at 0.6 V, and the board's feedback divider network is configured for minimum 0.6 V output. Lower voltages require external circuitry (e.g., resistive offset or dedicated reference), which is not supported by the default STEVAL-ISA201V1 layout or firmware.

Is thermal performance data available for the STEVAL-ISA201V1 under full 3 A load?

Yes-ST provides thermal images and junction temperature measurements in the user manual (UM1622 Rev 3), showing 78 °C junction rise at 3 A, 12 V_IN, 3.3 V_OUT, 250 kHz, and 25 °C ambient using the HSOP8 variant. This confirms safe operation within the L5987A's 150 °C thermal shutdown threshold.