Monolithic Power Systems Inc. TBMA732-Q-RD-00A

Overview

TBMA732-Q-RD-00A from Monolithic Power Systems is a long-format (LT) evaluation board designed specifically for the MA732 MagAlpha magnetic position sensor. It supports both side-shaft and end-of-shaft mounting configurations, provides SPI interface access via CN1, and exposes incremental encoder outputs (A/B/Z), PWM, and test functionality via CN2. The board includes the pre-mounted MA732 sensor, decoupling capacitors (1µF ×2, 100nF ×1), and unpopulated 2.54mm 8-pin receptacle connectors.

For engineers reviewing the TBMA732-Q-RD-00A datasheet, TBMA732-Q-RD-00A pinout, TBMA732-Q-RD-00A application, or TBMA732-Q-RD-00A equivalent, this board enables rapid functional validation of MA732-based angle sensing in motor commutation, servo feedback, and robotic joint positioning - with direct compatibility to EVKT-MagAlpha-MagDiff and EVKT-MACOM evaluation ecosystems.

Technical Context

The TBMA732-Q-RD-00A implements Board Type 2 architecture per the TBMA User Guide Rev. 1.2, matching the MA732's dual-output capability: standard SPI (VDD, GND, CS, SCLK, MISO, MOSI) on CN1 and configurable I/Os (IO1–IO6, MGL, MGH) on CN2. It uses 0402 ceramic decoupling (Murata GRM155C81A105KA12D and GRM155R71C104KA88J) and supports optional 0Ω resistors for signal routing flexibility.

This board type does not include VDDIO or EN/ND/DV pins - distinguishing it from Type 3/4 boards - and omits flash power (VFLASH) and analog outputs (U/V/W), confirming its alignment with MA732's core SPI + dual digital output feature set rather than advanced configuration or analog interface variants.

Key Specifications

Availability

TBMA732-Q-RD-00A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for servo drives, robotics joint feedback, and BLDC motor commutation requiring stable component supply and rapid MagAlpha sensor prototyping.

Supply support for TBMA732-Q-RD-00A 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 design centers across Asia and North America.

TBMA732-Q-RD-00A belongs to the TBMA test board product line - engineered to accelerate evaluation of MagAlpha magnetic position sensors in motion control applications where contactless, high-resolution angular measurement is critical.

FAQ

What sensor is pre-mounted on the TBMA732-Q-RD-00A board?

The TBMA732-Q-RD-00A board has the MA732 MagAlpha magnetic position sensor pre-assembled and calibrated. This is confirmed in Table 1 of the TBMA User Guide Rev. 1.2, which explicitly lists "TBMA732-Q-LT" paired with "MA732" under Board Type 2. No other sensor variants are supported on this specific board variant.

Does TBMA732-Q-RD-00A include populated connectors?

No - CN1 and CN2 are unpopulated 2.54mm 8-position receptacle footprints per Table 2 and Table 4 of the User Guide. Users must solder compatible connectors (e.g., Wurth 690367280876 or TE 7-2178711-8) to interface with host systems or evaluation kits like EVKT-MagAlpha-MagDiff.

Which interface protocols does TBMA732-Q-RD-00A support out of the box?

The board natively supports SPI communication (CS, SCLK, MISO, MOSI on CN1) and exposes six general-purpose I/O pins (IO1–IO6) plus MGL/MGH outputs on CN2. These match the MA732's documented digital interface capabilities - no UART, I²C, or SSI hardware is routed or enabled on this Type 2 board.

Can TBMA732-Q-RD-00A be used with the EVKT-MagAlpha-MagDiff kit?

Yes - the User Guide explicitly states TBMA boards are compatible with EVKT-MagAlpha-MagDiff (page 1). Pin mapping aligns: CN1 supplies power and SPI signals required by the MagDiff kit's host interface, while CN2 provides access to MA732's configurable outputs for real-time angle verification.

Is VDDIO or enable functionality available on this board?

No - VDDIO, EN, ND, DV, ASC, ERR, and NVM pins are absent from the Type 2 schematic (Figure 9) and pin register table (Table 5). These features belong to Type 3/4 boards (e.g., TBMA780/TBMA782) and are not implemented on TBMA732-Q-RD-00A, consistent with MA732's base-feature set.

What magnet configuration is recommended for use with TBMA732-Q-RD-00A?

A diametrically magnetized ring or cylinder magnet is required - as specified in the MAG10 magnet family documentation referenced in the User Guide. Axially magnetized magnets will not yield valid angle output; MPS recommends MAG10-RING or MAG10-CYLINDER variants for optimal field coupling with the MA732's on-die Hall elements.