Monolithic Power Systems Inc. TBMA102-Q-LT-01A

Overview

TBMA102-Q-LT-01A from Monolithic Power Systems is a long-format (LT) evaluation board designed specifically for the MA102 MagAlpha magnetic position sensor. It supports both side-shaft and end-of-shaft mounting configurations, provides SPI interface access via dual 8-pin headers (CN1/CN2), and integrates decoupling capacitors and a pre-mounted MA102 sensor for rapid functional validation in motor control and encoder applications.

For engineers reviewing the TBMA102-Q-LT-01A datasheet, TBMA102-Q-LT-01A pinout, TBMA102-Q-LT-01A application, or TBMA102-Q-LT-01A equivalent, this board enables immediate evaluation of MA102 angle sensing performance-including incremental A/B/Z outputs, PWM, and test functionality-without custom PCB design or component sourcing.

Technical Context

This board belongs to TBMA Board Type 2, as confirmed by its schematic (Figure 9), BOM (Table 4), and pin register mapping (Table 5). It routes all core SPI signals (CS, SCLK, MISO, MOSI), power (VDD, GND), and configurable I/Os (IO1–IO6, MGH, MGL) to two unpopulated 2.54 mm pitch 8-pin receptacle connectors.

The board implements no active logic or signal conditioning-only passive decoupling (1 µF C1, 100 nF C2) and connector footprints-making it a direct hardware interface between host controller and MA102 sensor. Its LT form factor positions the sensor at the board edge to accommodate mechanical integration with rotating shafts.

Key Specifications

Availability

TBMA102-Q-LT-01A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for servo drives, robotics, and BLDC motor commutation requiring stable component supply, quick-turn evaluation, and repeatable sensor characterization.

Supply support for TBMA102-Q-LT-01A 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

Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in high-performance power management and sensing solutions, with global design, sales, and support infrastructure.

TBMA102-Q-LT-01A belongs to MPS's MagAlpha evaluation platform family, engineered to accelerate development of contactless angular position sensing systems using their MA-series magnetic sensors in industrial and automotive motion control.

FAQ

What sensor does TBMA102-Q-LT-01A support?

TBMA102-Q-LT-01A is designed exclusively for the MA102 MagAlpha magnetic position sensor, as specified in Table 1 of the User Guide. It is not compatible with other MagAlpha variants like MA100 or MA302 without hardware modification.

Are connectors included with the board?

No-CN1 and CN2 are unpopulated 8-pin 2.54 mm receptacle footprints (Wurth 690367280876 or TE Connectivity 7-2178711-8 compatible). Users must solder their own connectors or use pogo pins for temporary connection.

Does TBMA102-Q-LT-01A provide power regulation?

No-it requires an external 3.3 V supply connected to CN1.1 (VDD) and CN1.2 (GND). There is no onboard LDO, DC-DC converter, or voltage translation circuitry.

Which output functions are accessible on CN2?

Per Table 5, CN2 provides IO1–IO6 (general-purpose I/Os mapped to MA102 pins 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 15), plus MGL and MGH-magnetic level detection outputs whose availability depends on MA102 configuration and firmware settings.

Can TBMA102-Q-LT-01A be used with the EVKT-MagAlpha-MagDiff kit?

Yes-the User Guide explicitly states TBMA boards are compatible with the EVKT-MagAlpha-MagDiff evaluation kit, enabling plug-and-play integration for differential magnetic field testing and system-level validation.

Is there flash programming capability on this board?

No-TBMA102-Q-LT-01A lacks VFLASH routing (unlike Type 1 boards). Flash programming of the MA102 must be performed via external programmer or host MCU using standard SPI commands, not through dedicated board pins.