Renesas ISL9241EVAL1Z User manual

User’s Manual
All information contained in these materials, including products and product specifications,
represents information on the product at the time of publication and is subject to change by
Renesas Electronics Corp. without notice. Please review the latest information published by
Renesas Electronics Corp. through various means, including the Renesas Electronics Corp.
website (http://www.renesas.com).
Rev.3.00
Renesas Electronics Corporation
www.renesas.com
ISL9241EVAL1Z
User’s Manual: Evaluation Board
Battery and Optical
Aug.26.19

UG184 Rev.3.00 Page 2 of 28
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ISL9241EVAL1Z
Evaluation Board
User’s Manual
The ISL9241 is a configurable buck-boost Narrow Output Voltage DC (NVDC) and Hybrid Power Buck-Boost
(HPBB) combo charger that uses the advanced Renesas R3™ Technology to provide high light-load efficiency,
fast transient response, and seamless DCM/CCM transitions for a variety of mobile and industrial applications.
In Charge mode, the ISL9241 takes input power from a wide range (4V to 20V) of DC power sources (such as
conventional AC/DC charger adapters, USB PD ports, travel adapters) and safely charges battery packs with up
to four cells in a series configuration.
The ISL9241 supports On-the-Go (OTG) functionality for 2-cell and 4-cell battery applications. When OTG
function is enabled, the ISL9241 operates in Reverse Buck mode to provide 5V at the USB port.
Serial communication through SMBus/I2C allows programming of many critical parameters to deliver a
customized solution. These programming parameters include, but are not limited to, adapter current limit, charger
current limit, system voltage setting, and trickle charging current limit.
The ISL9241EVAL1Z evaluation board is designed to demonstrate the performance of the ISL9241. From the
PROG pin to GND, the resistor can be used to program the default value numbers of the battery in series, the
switching frequency, and the adapter current limit charging function. The default value numbers can also be set by
SMBus.
Key Features
• Buck-boost NVDC and HPBB charger for 2-, 3-, and 4-cell Li-ion batteries
• Autonomous End of Charge (EOC) option
• System power monitor PSYS output
• PROCHOT# open-drain output
• Allows trickle charging of depleted battery
• Supplemental power (Intel VMIN active protection)
• Ideal diode control in Turbo mode
• Reverse buck, boost, and buck-boost operation from battery
• Two-level adapter current limit available
• Battery Ship mode option
• SMBus and auto-increment I2C compatible
Specifications
•V
IN = 3.8V to 24V (no dead zone)
•V
OUT = 3.9V to 18.304V
• MAX Icharge up to 6A
Ordering Information
Related Literature
For a full list of related documents, visit our website:
•ISL9241 device page
Part Number Description
ISL9241EVAL1Z ISL9241 buck-boost charger evaluation board

ISL9241EVAL1Z
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Recommended Equipment
• 0V to 25V power supply with at least 6A source current capability
• Electronic load capable of sinking current up to 6A
• Battery emulator capable of sinking and sourcing current up to 6A
• Digital Multimeters (DMMs)
• 100MHz quad-trace oscilloscope
Note: You can use a power supply (that can source but cannot sink current) in parallel with an e-load Constant
Current (CC) mode to emulate the battery. For example, when charging, set the charging current command lower
than the CC mode e-load. If the e-load CC mode current is set at 3A, the charge current command is 2A and the
e-load takes 2A from the charger and another 1A from the power supply in parallel with it. When discharging, the
power supply acts just like the battery to discharge current. You can also use the e-load Constant Voltage (CV)
mode to emulate the battery to take the charging current from the charger and set the e-load CV voltage below
the MaxSysV register setting. However, this e-load CV mode cannot source current like a battery.
Figure 1. ISL9241EVAL1Z Block Diagram
ISL9241
BOOT1 PHASE1 UGATE1
VDDP
LGATE1 LGATE2 UGATE2 PHASE2 BOOT2
SCL
SDA
VBAT
CSOP
CSON
DCIN
VDD
COMPF
PSYS
BGATE
PROCHOT#
ACOK
GND
CSIP
CSIN
AMON/BMON
VADP
2S-4S
Battery
PROG
CMOUT/INT#
OTGEN/CMIN
Q1
Q2
Q4
Q3
Rs1
Rs2
L1
BATGONE/NTC
NGATE
VSYS
BYPSRC
RTHM
VSYS
VADP
BYPSG
SD
D
BYPSG
BYPSRC
COMPR
RPSYS

ISL9241EVAL1Z 1. Installing the ISL9241 Software
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1. Installing the ISL9241 Software
The ISL9241 Control Software communicates with the ISL9241 controller using the USB to on-board SMBus
Graphical User Interface (GUI). The GUI facilitates access to the ISL9241 SMBus registers.
This section describes how to install, start, and use the GUI.
1.1 Required Hardware
• ISL9241EVAL1Z evaluation board
• USB 2.0 A/B cable
1.2 Required Software
The software Installation Wizard package includes all three required components:
• ISL9241 SMBus Control Tool
• National Instruments Runtime VISA Engine
• USB interface module driver
1.3 Installing the GUI
Both the ISL9241 Control Software and the National Instruments Runtime Engine are installed automatically from
the installation wizard.
Note: Close all other applications before this installation and reboot the computer when the installation is
complete.
1. Extract the zip file to the local drive, not the network drive. The security of the network prohibits the .inf file from
being copied onto the network.
2. Run autorun.exe. The menu in Figure 2 appears.
Figure 2. ISL9241 SMBus Control Tool Installation Wizard

ISL9241EVAL1Z 1. Installing the ISL9241 Software
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3. Click Install ISL9241 SMBus Control Tool.
a. The window shown in Figure 3 appears. Click Next.
Figure 3. ISL9241 Control Software Installer
4. Follow the instructions to accept the two End User License Agreements to complete the software installation.
5. Click Close Menu from the installation wizard.
1.4 Installing the USB Driver
This process explains how to install the SMBus to USB interface driver.
The driver supports Microsoft Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 operating systems.
Note: If you installed the driver or certificate previously, skip this section.
1. Open the installation wizard package.
2. Navigate to USB-SMBus Driver. Right-click the SMBus-USB-Win10.inf file and select Install.
Note: Install the driver from the local drive. The driver installation fails due to network security if you install from
the network drive.
Figure 4. ISL9241 USB Driver Location

ISL9241EVAL1Z 1. Installing the ISL9241 Software
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3. The message in Figure 5 appears when the driver is successfully installed.
Figure 5. ISL9241 Successful Driver Installation
4. If the installation fails the Digital Signature required in Windows 10 or security settings, complete the following
steps to bypass it.
Note: To complete the process, print and complete the steps below. The system restarts and these instructions
are needed.
5. Open the Command Prompt from the Start menu.
6. Enter the command “shutdown /r /o /f /t 00” in the Command Prompt.
7. Click OK.
8. The system restarts to the Choose an option screen.
9. Select Troubleshoot from the Choose an option screen.
10. Select Advanced options from the Troubleshoot screen.
11. Select Windows Startup Settings from the Advanced options screen.
12. Click Restart.
13. The system restarts to the Advanced Boot Options screen.
14. Select Disable Driver Signature Enforcement.
15. Restart and install the drivers.

ISL9241EVAL1Z 2. Using the GUI
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2. Using the GUI
The ISL9241 SMBus Control Tool Software must be installed to use the evaluation system. Do not connect the
ISL9241EVAL1Z evaluation board to the USB port until installation is complete.
Connect the ISL9241EVAL1Z to a power supply before using the SMBus GUI.
2.1 Setting the USB Connection
Connect the USB cable from the USB of the computer port to the connector J10 of the ISL9241EVAL1Z.
2.2 Starting the GUI
To start the GUI, navigate to the Start menu , then select All Programs → Renesas →
ISL9241 SMBus Control Tool.
Figure 6 shows the GUI.
Figure 6. ISL9241 Graphical User Interface
2.3 Troubleshooting the GUI
Check the status of the USB interface at the top of the GUI. If the USB communication is OK, the USB Interface
status shows a green check mark, as seen in Figure 6.
If the USB Interface status shows a red X, the computer cannot establish the connection. Complete the following
steps to troubleshoot:
1. Make sure the driver files for the USB interface are installed correctly. The driver files are in the USB-I2C Driver
folder.
2. Check the USB cable connections from the ISL9241EVAL1Z to the USB port of the computer.
3. Try different sequences: plug in the ISL9241EVAL1Z first or start the GUI first.
If the problem continues, the USB driver may not be properly installed; therefore, the ISL9241EVAL1Z is not
recognized. See “Installing the USB Driver” on page 5 for driver installation instructions.

ISL9241EVAL1Z 3. Functional Description
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3. Functional Description
The ISL9241EVAL1Z evaluation board provides all circuits required to evaluate the features of the ISL9241. A
majority of the features of the ISL9241 are available on the ISL9241EVAL1Z, such as adjustable output voltage,
On-the-Go (OTG) mode, Trickle Charging mode for a depleted battery, and system power monitor at Buck, Boost,
and Buck-Boost modes. The charger can be controlled through firmware to operate in Hybrid Power Buck-Boost
or Bypass mode. See AN1994, ISL9241 Operation Modes for detailed information about the operation modes.
3.1 Quick Start Guide
The number of battery cell and adapter current limit default values can be configured with a standard 1% 0603
resistor (R23) from the PROG pin to GND. The Prog Pin Programming Options table in the ISL9241 datasheet
shows the programming options. After the default number of cells in series is set, the default values for
MaxSystemVoltage and MinSystemVoltage are set accordingly. These values can also be changed through the
SMBus control registers, which are implemented with the Renesas GUI shown in Figure 8 on page 10.
The three LEDs indicate the ACOK, PROCHOT, and OTGPG/CMOUT status, respectively. For more details about
the functions of these three pins, see the ISL9241 datasheet.
Complete the following steps to evaluate the ISL9241 key functions, including system voltage regulation, input
current limit regulation, Charging mode, trickle Charging mode, and OTG mode. Figure 7 on page 9 shows the top
view of the ISL9241EVAL1Z and highlights the key testing points and connection terminals. For more information
about the ISL9241, including other operation modes, see the ISL9241 datasheet and AN1994.

ISL9241EVAL1Z 3. Functional Description
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3.2 Regulating System Voltage
1. Set the power supply to 5V. With the output disabled, connect the (+) end to J1 and the (-) end to J2.
2. Ensure jumpers JP3, JP4, and JP6 are shorted. SW1 and SW2 should switch to the low position.
3. Turn on the power supply and measure VSYS using the DMM across (+) and (-) TP5. VSYS should read 8.38V.
The current meter on the supply should read <100mA. Increase VIN from 5V to 15V slowly. Monitor PH1 and
PH2 to observe seamless switching from Boost mode to Buck-Boost mode and finally into Buck mode.
3.3 Regulating Input Current Limit
1. Keep VIN as a constant value between 3.8V and 24V. Set the battery emulator voltage to 7.8V and connect the
battery emulator output to battery leads J5 and J6.
2. Turn on the battery emulator; there is no charge and discharge current for the battery, which is consistent with
BGATE FET being off.
Figure 7. ISL9241EVAL1Z Connections
(+) Supply
(-) Supply
USB Port
for SMBus
(+) DMM
(-) DMM
(+) Battery
(-) Battery
BGATELED 1BATGONE
Lead
Lead
Lead
Lead
Lead
Lead
PH1 PH2
LED 2 LED 3

ISL9241EVAL1Z 3. Functional Description
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3. Add an electrical load on VSYS and GND terminals J3 and J4. Turn on the load and increase the electrical load
slowly; the input current increases correspondingly and VSYS keeps stable at 8.38V. The output voltage
(VSYS) starts dropping as the input current reaches the 0.476A input current limit. For the input current limit
details, see the ISL9241 datasheet. If the VSYS voltage is 150mV lower than the battery voltage, the BGATE
FET turns on at a low voltage level so that the battery supplies the current to the load.
3.4 Configuring the ISL9142EVAL1Z for Charging Mode
1. Set the power supply to a constant value between 3.8V and 24V, then complete Steps 1 and 2 in “Regulating
System Voltage” on page 9. Make sure the input current does not exceed the limit.
2. Set the battery emulator voltage to 7.8V and connect the battery emulator output to battery leads J5 and J6.
3. Connect the USB cable at the USB port for the SMBus. LED1, 2, and 3 all turn on.
4. Turn on the power supply; LED3 goes out. Turn on the battery emulator and open the Renesas ISL9241 GUI
(Figure 8).
Note: A green check mark in the USB Interface status indicates the GUI is ready to communicate with the
ISL9241EVAL1Z. If the USB Interface shows a red X, the GUI is not ready to communicate with the
ISL9241EVAL1Z. Click the Reset USB button until a green check mark appears in the USB Interface. If the
green check mark does not appear, check the USB connection. See “Troubleshooting the GUI” on page 7 for
troubleshooting information.
5. Select 2 Cell in the No of Battery Cell section and click the Write All button. All controller register values are
set to the default values correspondingly. The system voltage is 8.4V, which is the value of MaxSysVoltage in
the GUI. There is no charge and discharge current for the battery. Set the minimum system voltage
(MinSysVoltage) to a non zero value. Change the charge current limit (ChargeCurrentLimit) from 0A to 2A
and click Write. The battery is now in 2A current charge operation. The charge current value can be monitored
in the GUI by clicking Read in the ChargeCurrentLimit column. Monitor the BGATE signal status to confirm
the battery is in Charging mode.
6. To turn on charging (trickle and fast/normal), set the MinSysVoltage register and the ChargeCurrentLimit
register to non-zero values.
Figure 8. ISL9241 GUI