Monolithic Power Systems Inc. TBMA310-Q-RD-01A

Overview

TBMA310-Q-RD-01A from Monolithic Power Systems is a long-format (LT) evaluation board designed specifically for the MA310 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 test points for rapid functional validation in motor control and encoder applications.

For engineers reviewing the TBMA310-Q-RD-01A datasheet, TBMA310-Q-RD-01A pinout, TBMA310-Q-RD-01A application, or TBMA310-Q-RD-01A equivalent, this board enables immediate evaluation of MA310 angle sensing performance-including incremental A/B/Z outputs, PWM, and optional commutation U/V/W signals-without custom PCB design or sensor-level bring-up.

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 the MA310's full I/O set-including SPI (CS/SCLK/MISO/MOSI), TEST, and six configurable I/O pins (IO1–IO6)-to two unpopulated 2.54 mm pitch receptacle connectors.

The board implements no active logic or level-shifting circuitry; all signals are direct pass-through from the MA310 die to header pins. Power delivery is limited to 3.3 V (VDD) and ground (GND) on CN1, with no onboard voltage regulation or flash supply (VFLASH) support-consistent with Type 2 architecture and distinct from Type 1 boards.

Key Specifications

Availability

TBMA310-Q-RD-01A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for servo drives, robotics, and BLDC motor commutation requiring stable component supply, quick-turn evaluation, and seamless integration with existing MagAlpha development ecosystems.

Supply support for TBMA310-Q-RD-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 motion sensing solutions, with global design, sales, and support infrastructure.

TBMA310-Q-RD-01A is part of MPS's MagAlpha evaluation platform, engineered to accelerate adoption of their magnetic position sensors in precision motion control systems where contactless angular measurement and robust EMC performance are critical.

FAQ

Does TBMA310-Q-RD-01A include the MA310 sensor pre-soldered?

Yes. The board ships with the MA310 MagAlpha sensor fully assembled and soldered onto the PCB, along with decoupling capacitors C1 and C2 (C2 is optional and may be unpopulated). No socket or replacement provision is provided.

What connector types are supported for CN1 and CN2?

CN1 and CN2 accept standard 2.54 mm pitch, 8-position surface-mount receptacle connectors-specifically Wurth 690367280876 or TE Connectivity 7-2178711-8-as listed in Table 4 of the User Guide. Connectors are not included and must be sourced separately.

Can TBMA310-Q-RD-01A be used with the EVKT-MagAlpha-MagDiff evaluation kit?

Yes. The board is explicitly stated as compatible with the EVKT-MagAlpha-MagDiff (and EVKT-MACOM) in the User Guide Section 1, enabling plug-and-play connection for system-level testing without adapter hardware.

Which pins on CN2 correspond to MA310's I/O functions?

Per Table 5, CN2 pins 1–6 map directly to MA310's IO6, IO1, IO5, IO4, IO2, and IO3 respectively. CN2.7 and CN2.8 route MGL and MGH-magnetic field threshold outputs-whose availability depends on MA310's internal configuration and must be verified against the MA310 datasheet.

Is VFLASH power supported on this board?

No. VFLASH (used for firmware flashing) is absent from TBMA310-Q-RD-01A's Type 2 architecture. Unlike Type 1 boards (e.g., TBMA300-Q-LT), this board does not provide a dedicated VFLASH pin or associated circuitry-only VDD (3.3 V), GND, and digital I/O are routed.

Does the board support both side-shaft and end-of-shaft mechanical configurations?

Yes. As stated in the Description section, TBMA boards-including TBMA310-Q-RD-01A-are designed for dual mounting: the long (LT) form factor allows flexible placement relative to rotating shafts, accommodating either side-shaft (lateral field sensing) or end-of-shaft (axial field sensing) magnet arrangements.