Getting Started with the KITPF8150FRDMEVM and KITPF8250FRDMEVM Evaluation Boards

2.1 Board Overview

The KITPF8150FRDMEVM or the KITPF8250FRDMEVM provides an easy-to-use platform for evaluating NXP products. The boards support a range of analog, mixed-signal and power solutions. They incorporate monolithic integrated circuits and system-in-package devices that use proven high-volume technology. NXP products offer longer battery life, a smaller form factor, reduced component counts, lower cost and improved performance in powering state-of-the-art systems.

These customer evaluation boards feature the PF8150/PF8250 power management IC. The kits integrate all hardware needed to fully evaluate the PMIC. They integrate a communication bridge based on the FRDM-KL25Z development board to interface with the GUI software interface to fully configure and control the PF8150/PF8250 PMIC.

2.2 Board Features

Buck regulators

• SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6: 0.4 V to 1.8 V; 2500 mA; 1.5 % accuracy and dynamic voltage scaling and single, dual, triple or quad-phase configuration
• SW7; 1.0 V to 4.1 V; 2500 mA; 2 % accuracy
• Configurable VTT termination mode on SW6
• Programmable current limit
• Spread-spectrum and manual tuning of switching frequency

LDO regulators

• 4x LDO regulator 1.5 V to 5.0 V, 400 mA: 3 % accuracy with optional load switch mode
• Selectable hardware/software control on LDO2

RTC supply

• VSNVS 1.8 V/3.0 V/3.3 V, 10 mA
• Battery-backed memory including coincell charger with programmable charge current and voltage

System features

• 2.7 V to 5.5 V operating input voltage range
• USB to I²C communication via the FRDM-KL25Z interface
• Selectable hardwire default PMIC configuration or OTP/TBB operation
• Fast mode I²C communication at 400 kHz (high-speed operation supported by PMIC)
• Advance system monitoring/diagnostic via PMIC and/or system analog multiplexer (AMUX)
• Primary/secondary interface connector
• Onboard I/O regulator with 1.8 V/3.3 V selectable output voltage

2.3 Board Description

The KITPF8150FRDMEVM/KITPF8250FRDMEVM are a hardware evaluation boards that allow the full evaluation of the PF8150/PF8250. The PF8150/PF8250 family of devices feature power management-integrated circuit (PMIC) designed for high performance applications based on NXP's i.MX 8 and S32x processors, and on other non-NXP processors. It features seven high-efficiency buck converters and four linear regulators for powering the processor, memory, and miscellaneous peripherals.

Built-in one time programmable memory stores key startup configurations, drastically reducing external components typically used to set output voltage and sequence of external regulators. Regulator parameters are adjustable through high-speed I²C after start-up offering flexibility for different system states.

The PF8150/PF8250 family comprises two versions of this PMIC, to address different market needs:

• PF8250 is the flagship version of this family providing a full feature PMIC with integrated functional safety mechanism to comply with the ISO 26262 standard and providing a powerful and flexible solution for ASIL B/D automotive modules
• PF8150 is the nonsafety version of this product, providing all the power management and digital control included in PF8250, without the functional safety overhead to provide a more economic platform for nonsafety systems

The key features are listed in Table 1.

Table 1. Key features.

The Figure 1 consists of a multiple board with FRDM-LKL25 as shown in the final assembly below.

Figure 1. KITPF8150FRDMEVM/KITPF8250FRDMEVM Overview

Figure 1. KITPF8150FRDMEVM/KITPF8250FRDMEVM Overview

3.1 Hardware Configuration

This section summarizes the overall setup. The user guide provides a more detailed description. Suggested equipment needed for test:

• 3.0 V to 5.0 V power supply (using banana jacks)
• Computer
• Mini USB type A Cable or USB-Type C Cable depends on the KL25Z board

3.2 Configuration Image

Figure 2. Typical Initial Configuration

Figure 2. Typical Initial Configuration

3.3 Device Considerations

It is recommended to learn about the device and its specifications prior to operating the boards. The device has a high level of flexibility due to parameter configuration available in the OTP. This impacts the functionality of the device. It is key to understand how the parameters are programmed on the device.

Note: The board is populated with a MC33PF8100A0ES or a MC33PF8200A0ES.

3.4 Setting Up the Board

Follow the steps to configure the hardware and workstation as illustrated.

1. With the USB cable connected to the PC and the USB port in the Freedom board, apply VIN to the evaluation board
   • Provide external VIN between 2.5 V to 5.5 V on J10 (VIN) and J4 (GND)
   • Short jumper J17 to provide 3V3 Vin from Freedom board (use this mode of operation for functional demonstration only, no regulation loading allowed in this mode)

     Note: Do not apply power to J10 while J17 is short. This could damage the onboard regulator on the FRDM-KL25Z Freedom board.

2. Press reset on the Freedom board, to ensure that the board is properly recognized

4.1 Downloading the GUI

1. Sign in to the NXP website and open the link of NXP GUI for Automotive PMIC Families, and then download the zip files. Read the agreement for the GUI and if everything is okay, accept that. The download will start at the location you select

   Figure 3. Downloads

   

   Figure 3. Downloads

   
2. Go to the folder location in which the GUI package is saved, unzip the files and open them. The files in the folder should be as below:

   Figure 4. GUI Files Example

   

   Figure 4. GUI Files Example

   

4.2 Installing and Opening GUI

1. Open the "1-NXP_GUI_Setup" folder and click the file named "NXP_GUI-10.0.0-Setup.exe", then the GUI will be installed in the PC

   Figure 5. 1-NXP_GUI_Setup Folder Example

   

   Figure 5. 1-NXP_GUI_Setup Folder Example

   
2. After installation, open the GUI. One GUI interface, which integrates multiproducts of the NXP Auto PMICs, can be found as below. Select the PMIC product on the evaluation board and open that. For example, if the evaluation board is KITPF8150FRDMEVM, select PF8150 and click OK

   Figure 6. PF8150 kit selection example.

4.3 Updating the PF8150/PF8250 Firmware

The FRDM-KL25Z freedom board is used as a communication bridge to interface the GUI with the PMIC and other I²C devices. The firmware is organized in three levels:

1. At first level, the SDA uses the bootloader to operate as the main path to flash the functional code of the SDA processor. The bootloader is preprogrammed on the FRDM-KL25Z freedom boards and cannot be reflashed to avoid permanent damage to the Freedom board
2. At the second level, the SDA provides a firmware loader for a drag and drop update of the KL25Z MCU firmware
3. At the third level, the KL25Z MCU provides the GUI firmware in charge of converting the USB communication into MCU instructions to control digital I/Os as well as I²C communication to the PMIC

If the FRDM-KL25Z is not loaded with the correct firmware to support a future software upgrade, the firmware can be updated in a few simple steps.

Note: The following firmware updates are optional and can be skipped if the firmware is up to date. First, try to connect the FRDM-KL25Z usb connector with the PC, and open the GUI, if the board connects successfully after clicking Start, it means that the firmware does not need to be updated.

Flashing the FRDM-KL25Z Firmware Loader

1. Press the push button on the Freedom board and connect the USB cable into the SDA port on the Freedom board. A new bootloader device should appear on the left pane of the file explorer

   Figure 7. USB Port/SDA Port

   

   Figure 7. USB Port/SDA Port

   
2. Drag the file MSD-DEBUG-FRDM-KL25Z_Pemicro_v118.SDA into the bootloader drive. The file should be located in the KL25Z_FW folder

   Figure 8. KL25Z_FW Folder Example

   

   Figure 8. KL25Z_FW Folder Example

   
3. Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable into the SDA port (this time without pressing the pushbutton). A new device called FRDM_KL25Z is installed on the PC

Flashing the GUI Firmware

If a new software or silicon release requires a firmware update on the FRDM-KL25Z freedom board, use the following procedure to upgrade or downgrade the firmware of the freedom board as needed. Note that this procedure is needed only to update the firmware and may be skipped if no change is needed.

1. Connect the USB cable in the SDA port (without holding the pushbutton)
2. Locate the ".bin" GUI driver to be installed, for example nxp-gui-fw-frdmkl25z-usb_hid-pf8x00_v0.16.bin, drag the file into the FRDM_KL25Z driver

   Figure 9. PF8X00 Folder Example

   

   Figure 9. PF8X00 Folder Example

   
3. Freedom board firmware is successfully loaded

Board Documents

• UM12404 KITPF8150FRDMEVM/KITPF8250FRDMEVM Evaluation Board User Manual
• KITPF8150FRDEVM Schematics
• KITPF8250FRDEVM Schematics
• KITPF8250FRDMEVM Design Files
• KITPF8150FRDMEVM Design Files

Software

• Analog Expert Software and Tools

Additional References

In addition to PF81-PF82, visit:

Product Pages

• i.MX8X: i.MX 8X Family - Arm® Cortex®-A35, 3D Graphics, 4K Video, DSP, Error Correcting Code on DDR
• S32V234: Vision Processor for Front and Surround View Camera, Machine Learning, and Sensor Fusion

Hardware Pages

• Analog Toolbox

Application Pages

Automotive

• Automotive Sensor Fusion Systems
• Automotive Vision Systems
• Entry Infotainment/Connected Radio
• Front View Camera
• Gateway
• Intelligent Roadside Unit
• Mid/High-End Infotainment Head Unit
• Surround View and Sense Park Assist System Industrial
• Vision, Advanced Sensing, and Processing Board Networking
• Small Business Router

Forums

Connect with other engineers and get expert advice on designing with the KITPF8X50FRDMEVM evaluation board using our community sites.

• Power Management