Qorvo ACT41000EVK1-104 User manual

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ACT41000EVK1-104 User’s Guide
Description
This document describes the characteristics and operation of the Qorvo ACT41000EVK1-104 evaluation kit (EVK). It provides setup
and operation instructions, schematic, layout, BOM, and test data. This EVK demonstrates the ACT41000-104T power management IC.
Other ACT41000QIxxx options can be evaluated on this EVK by replacing the IC and any other necessary components.
Features
The EVK can be used as a standalone board if desired. However, to access the internal registers and to take full advantage of the IC’s
capability, the user must connect the EVK to a PC with Qorvo’s USB-TO-I2C interface dongle and use the GUI software. The EVK
provides full access to each converter’s input and output voltage, as well as all the digital control signals. This gives the user the
flexibility to configure the EVK to match their real-world system
Figure 1. EVK Picture
EVK Contents
The ACT41000EVK1-104 evaluation kit comes with the following items:
•EVK assembly
•USB-TO-I2C dongle
•Dongle
•Custom 4-pin connector that connects the USB-TO-I2C dongle to the EVK assembly

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Required Equipment
•ACT41000EVK1-104
•USB-TO-I2C Dongle
•Power supply - 24~40V @ 5A for full power operation
•Oscilloscope - 100MHz, 4 channels
•Digital Multi-meters (DMM)
•Windows compatible PC with spare USB port.
Hardware Setup
Figure 2. EVK Setup

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Quick Start
Hardware Connections
Refer to Figure 2 for hardware connections.
1. Connect a DC power supply to J8. J8 is connector for input voltage (VIN). Please ensure the correct power supply
polarity.
2. Connect an E-Load to J9. J9 is connector for output voltage (VOUT).
3. Connect Digital Multi-Meters to VIN and VOUT to monitor the input voltage and output voltages.
4. Add a digital Multi-Meter in series with VIN and VOUT if you want to observe input and output current.
5. Be careful to keep the input voltage within the specifications.
6. Optional – Connect the EVK to the PC with the USB dongle.
GUI Setup (optional)
1. Refer to the end of this document for detailed instructions to install the ACT41000 GUI.
2. Connect the USB-TO-I2C dongle to the computer via a USB cable.
3. Connect the USB-TO-I2C dongle to the EVK J17 connector. Refer to Figure 3 to ensure the correct polarity of the
connection.As a guide, use the “Active-Semi” (or Qorvo) logo on the top of the dongle so the black wire is connected
to the Dongle GND pin.
Figure 3. USB-TO-I2C Dongle Connection

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Recommended Operating Conditions
The ACT41000EVK1-104 is designed for a 24V-40V input voltage. The maximum operating voltage is determined by the
IC’s maximum input voltage rating. The minimum operating voltage is determined by the IC’s output voltage setting. The
ACT41000-104T output voltage is 22V, so the EVK should be operated with Vin greater than 22V. The maximum output
current is configured by the CMI and external components. The switching frequency is set to 450kHz to optimize efficiency.
The customer can easily reconfigure the EVK for different switching frequencies and output voltages after referring to the
datasheet for the required component changes. The output voltage can be changed via I2C either before or after the output
voltage is enabled.
Table 1. Recommended Operating Conditions
Parameter
Description
Min
Typ
Max
Unit
VIN
Input voltage
24
-
40
V
VOUT
Main-buck output voltage
3
-
22
V
V5V
Mini-buck output voltage
5
V
I
V5V_max
Mini-buck maximum output current
300
mA
I
out_max
Main-buck maximum output current
4
A
EVK Operation
Turn On the Evaluation Board
After the power source and E-Load are connected to the evaluation board per the required connections, the EVK can be
powered for operation. Perform the following steps to turn on the board.
1. Ensure that the power supply connected to VIN (J8) is >24V and <40V.
2. Turn on power supply.
3. Apply the load.
4. Remove the shorting jumper from J12 to enable output. Replace the jumper to disable the output.
Output Current Limit – The ACT41000EVK1-104 output current limit is set to 4A. This is a function of the 20mΩ current
sense resister (R5), the 16kΩ ILIM resistor (R9), and the I2C Output Current Limit bits, which are set to 100uA by default.
The ACT41000 integrates a digital-to-analog converter (ILIM DAC) for the purpose of generating the reference signal used
by the Current Limit block. The ILIM DAC generates an output current at the ILIM pin. The output current limit is easily
changed by modifying any of these three parameters. The easiest way to change the output current limit is with the ILIM
DAC field in the GUI.

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Output Voltage Setting
The default output voltage can be changed by I2C using the VOUT SETTING field in the GUI. Refer to the ACT41000
datasheet before changing the output voltage. Large output voltage changes from the default setting may require changes
in external components to ensure optimized performance.
Additional Programmable Functionality
The ACT41000 contains many additional programmable parameters. Refer to the ACT41000 datasheet for additional
functionality and default I2C register values.

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Test Results

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Schematic
Figure 4. Schematic

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Layout
Figure 5. Layout Top Layer

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Figure 6. Layout Layer 2 - GND

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Figure 7. Layout Layer 3 -VCC

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Figure 8. Layout Bottom Layer

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Bill of Materials
Table 2. ACT41000EVK1-104 BOM
Item
Ref Des
QTY
Description
Package
MFR
Part Number
1
C1
1
Cap, Ceramic, 1uF, 50V, 20%, X5R
0805
std
std
2C2 1
Cap, Ceramic, 10uF, 10V, 20%,
X5R 0805 Wurth Elektronik 885012107010
3
C3
1
Cap, Ceramic, 1uF, 10V, 20%, X5R
0603
std
std
4
C4, C5
2
Cap, Ceramic, 1uF, 50V, 20%, X5R
0603
std
std
5
C6, C7, C18, C19,
C20, C21 6
Cap, Ceramic, 10uF, 50V, 10%,
X5R 1206 TDK CGA5L3X5R1H106K160AB
6C8 1
Cap, Aluminium Electrolytic,
100uF, 50V 8x11.5mm Wurth Elektronik 860010674014
7C9 1
Cap, Ceramic, 100nF, 25V, 20%,
X5R 0603 std std
8C10 1
Cap, Ceramic, 470pF, 50V, 20%,
X5R 0603 std std
9
C11
0
NP
0603
std
std
10
C12, C13, C14,
C16, C24 5
Cap, Ceramic, 22uF, 35V, 20%,
X5R 1206 TDK C3216X5R1V226M160AC
11
C15
0
NP
8x11.5mm
Wurth Elektronik
860010674014
12 C17 1
Cap, Ceramic, 10uF, 25V, 10%,
X5R 0603 std std
13
C22, C23, C25
0
NP
1206
TDK
C3216X5R1V226M160AC
14
J1, J2, J3, J4, J5,
J12 6Header,2pin,100mil std std
15
J6, J7, J10, J11,
J13, J14, J15, J16 8Header,1pin,100mil std std
16
J8, J9
2
Entry modular,2pin
Wurth Elektronik
691214110002S
17
J17
1
Header, 4 pin,100mil
std
std
18 J18 1
Header, Unshrouded , 1.27, Male,
6P Sullins GRPB061VWVN-RC
19
L1
1
Inductor, 47uH, 0.71A, SMD
4mmx4mm
Wurth Elektronik
74404043470A
20
L2
1
Inductor, 6.8uH, 7.2A , SMD
8.0mmx9.0mm
Wurth Elektronik
74439358068
21
R1, R8, R10
3
Res, 0Ω, 1%
0603
std
std
22
R2,
1
Res, 100kΩ, 1%
0603
std
std
23
R3
1
Res, 10kΩ, 1%
0603
std
std

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24
R4
0
NP
0603
std
std
25
R7, R11, R14
0
NP
0603
std
std
26
R5
1
Resistor, 20mΩ, 1%, 1W
1206
SART
SMF12MAFR020T
27
R6
1
Res, 200kΩ, 1%
0603
std
std
28
R9
1
Res, 16kΩ, 1%
0603
std
std
29
TP1, TP3, TP5,
TP7 4Test Point, Red Keystone TESTPOINT 5000
30
TP2, TP4, TP6,
TP8, TP9 5Test Point, Black Keystone TESTPOINT 5001
31
U1
1
ACT41000
QFN32-5X5
Qorvo
ACT41000-104T
32
--
1
Multi-Jumper, 100mil
std
std
33
--
1
PCB, ACT41000EVK
n/a
n/a
PCB-0345-00

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GUI Installation
1. Get GUI files from the Qorvo website
2. Plug the USB-TO-I2C dongle into a free USB port.
3. Follow the instructions in the “How to install driver for dongle” folder.
4. Double click on the ActiveGUI.exe to start the ACT41000 GUI.
GUI Overview
The GUI has 2 basic function buttons allocated in top-left of the Tool Bar which are Read and Write I2C. The GUI contains
2 setting modes: Basic Mode and Advanced Mode. In Basic Mode screen it displays basic user programmable configuration
options are programmed using the drop-down boxes or check boxes. Advanced Mode contains the button text for changing
setting for every single bit.
Basic Mode
The following figure shows the GUI in basic mode. This mode allows the user to easily change one or more IC settings.
Advanced Mode
Click the “Advanced Mode” button in the left of the GUI screen to see all available user programmable options. With
Advanced Mode, additional user programmable features can be selected using the button text. In the left side of the
Advanced Mode Screen, click on the Tiles Selector to display the register to view or change. Then change a register one
bit at a time by clicking on the desired bit. The value of the bit is display right next to the bit-name button.
Note that the far right side of the screen contains a scroll down button to scroll down to additional registers since the Tile
Screen can only display up to 8 bytes at once.

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Button Descriptions
Read: Clicking on this button reads the ACT41000 registers and displays them in the GUI. Note that this reads all registers.
Qorvo recommends reading registers each time the ACT41000 powers-up to acquire the initial register settings. Qorvo also
recommends reading registers after making changes to them. Immediately reading the registers after a write confirms the
changes were properly stored.
Read Button
Write: Clicking on this button writes the GUI settings to the ACT41000’s registers. All registers are written, regardless of
whether or not they were changed.
Write Button
Dongle Connection Status: The GUI also contains a dongle connection status that indicates Qorvo’s USB-TO-I2C dongle
is connected to the USB port. The figure below shows the two possible indication status graphics.
Dongle connected
Dongle Disconnected

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Contact Information
For the latest specifications, additional product information, worldwide sales and distribution locations:
Web: www.qorvo.com
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Important Notice
The information contained in this Data Sheet and any associated documents (“Data Sheet Information”) is believed to be reliab
le;
however, Qorvo makes no warranties regarding the Data Sheet Information and assumes no responsibility or liability whatsoever for the
use of said information. All Data Sheet Information is subject to change without notice. Customers should obtain and verify t
he latest
relevant Data Sheet Information before placing orders for Qo
rvo® products. Data Sheet Information or the use thereof does not grant,
explicitly, implicitly or otherwise any rights or licenses to any third party with respect to patents or any other intellectual property whether
with regard to such Data Sheet Informa
tion itself or anything described by such information.
DATA SHEET INFORMATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTS DESCRIBED
HEREIN, AND QORVO HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PRODUCTS WHETHER
EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED BY LAW, COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, USAGE OF TRADE OR OTHERWISE,
INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, Qorvo® products are not warra
nted or authorized for use as critical components in medical, life-saving,
or life
-sustaining applications, or other applications where a failure would reasonably be expected to cause severe personal injury or
death. Applications described in the Data Shee
t Information are for illustrative purposes only. Customers are responsible for validating
that a particular product described in the Data Sheet Information is suitable for use in a particular application.
© 2020 Qorvo US, Inc. All rights reserved.
This
document is subject to copyright laws in various jurisdictions worldwide and may not be
reproduced or distributed, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Qorvo US, Inc. | QORVO® is a registere
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