Texas Instruments TPS61181AEVM-259

Overview

TPS61181AEVM-259 from Texas Instruments is an evaluation module designed to demonstrate and validate the TPS61181A WLED backlight driver IC in notebook/laptop applications. It implements a single-inductor, six-string boost converter architecture delivering up to 120 mA total regulated current across six independent outputs, with input voltage support from 4.5 V to 24 V and output capability up to 40 V for driving series-connected white LEDs.

For engineers reviewing the TPS61181AEVM-259 datasheet, TPS61181AEVM-259 test setup, TPS61181AEVM-259 schematic, or TPS61181AEVM-259 compatibility with WLEDEVM-260, this EVM provides verified dimming linearity (100 Hz–1 kHz PWM), efficiency measurements up to 95%, and configurable protection testing via JFBxS jumpers - all critical for rapid WLED backlight system validation.

Technical Context

The TPS61181AEVM-259 implements a fixed-frequency, current-mode boost topology using the TPS61181ARTE QFN-16 IC. It supports PWM dimming control via the DCTRL pin, replicates input PWM signals to all six current sinks, and includes EN logic-level enable (2.0–18 V) and integrated overvoltage protection triggered at ~39 V on the VOUT node.

Board-level features include input isolation via P-channel MOSFET Q1 (Si2307BDS) and clamping diode D2 (SS2P5-E3/84A), optional feedback resistor configuration (JFB1R–JFB6R), and direct interface to WLEDEVM-260 via a 14-pin ribbon cable (J8). The design uses a 10 µH power inductor (A915AY-100M) and ceramic output capacitors totaling 4.7 µF per rail.

Key Specifications

Availability

TPS61181AEVM-259 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for notebook backlight development, LCD panel qualification, and LED driver IC validation requiring stable component supply, traceable sourcing, and documented test methodology.

Supply support for TPS61181AEVM-259 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

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, specializing in analog, embedded processing, and power management technologies with over 50 years of innovation in high-reliability electronics.

The TPS61181AEVM-259 belongs to TI's WLED backlight evaluation platform family, engineered specifically to accelerate design-in of multi-string boost LED drivers for portable computing displays and small-format LCD panels.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the TPS61181AEVM-259?

The TPS61181AEVM-259 is an evaluation module built around the TPS61181ARTE WLED driver IC. Its primary function is to provide a fully assembled, tested reference platform for validating six-string white LED backlight operation in notebook/laptop systems. It enables engineers to verify efficiency, dimming linearity, startup behavior, and protection features - all using the actual TPS61181A IC in its intended application context. The TPS61181AEVM-259 supports direct connection to WLEDEVM-260 for rapid system-level testing.

Which IC does the TPS61181AEVM-259 evaluate, and what is its package?

The TPS61181AEVM-259 evaluates the TPS61181ARTE - a 16-pin QFN-packaged WLED driver IC with integrated current regulation, boost converter control, and PWM dimming replication. The board mounts the TPS61181ARTE in its production-ready QFN-16 footprint (5 mm × 5 mm, 0.5 mm pitch), matching the mechanical and thermal layout requirements specified in TI's official datasheet. This ensures that performance observed on the TPS61181AEVM-259 directly correlates to final PCB implementation.

Can the TPS61181AEVM-259 be used with other WLED EVMs?

Yes - the TPS61181AEVM-259 is explicitly designed to interface with WLEDEVM-260 via its 14-pin ribbon cable connector (J8). WLEDEVM-260 contains six strings of 12-series white LEDs and connects seamlessly to provide a complete, load-matched evaluation environment. This pairing eliminates the need for external LED arrays during initial characterization and allows engineers to measure real-world parameters like output ripple under PWM dimming (Figure 5) and efficiency vs. load (Figure 1) using the exact configuration described in the TPS61181AEVM-259 User's Guide.

What are the key user-configurable features on the TPS61181AEVM-259?

The TPS61181AEVM-259 offers several user-configurable features: JP1 selects DCTRL pin state (VCC for 100% dimming or GND for disable); JFB1S–JFB6S jumpers allow individual current sink short-to-ground testing for fault protection validation; JP13 enables current measurement in series with the total output; and optional components like Q1, R3, and D2 can be populated or omitted to assess input isolation and overvoltage clamping impact. These configurations let engineers isolate and verify specific functional blocks of the TPS61181A IC without modifying firmware or hardware design.

Does the TPS61181AEVM-259 comply with regulatory standards such as CE or FCC?

No - the TPS61181AEVM-259 is explicitly designated by Texas Instruments as an engineering development and evaluation tool only, not a finished end-product. As stated in the User's Guide, it falls outside the scope of FCC Part 15, CE, RoHS, WEEE, UL, and EMC directives. It has not undergone formal compliance testing. Engineers must integrate the TPS61181A IC into their own certified system-level design and perform full regulatory validation there; the TPS61181AEVM-259 serves solely for functional verification and parameter extraction prior to final design sign-off.