ST EVAL-L9963-MCU Installation and operating instructions

Introduction
This document is intended as quick guide to help the user in the startup phase of EVAL-L9963-MCU combining and
summarizing the information contained in EVAL-L9963-MCU and STSW-L9963 user manuals.
L9963 14 Cells BMC IC Evaluation Board Quick Guide
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Application note
AN5560 - Rev 2 - November 2020
For further information contact your local STMicroelectronics sales office.
www.st.com

1What you need
• EVAL-L9963-MCU
• USB cable
• Power supply (at least 3 output 0 – 30 V (if possible 60V):
– 1 output to power L9963 (0:60 V)
– 1 output to simulate Cells common mode voltage (0:60 V)
– 1 output to simulate Cell voltage (0:5 V)
• L9963 evaluation GUI STSW-L9963
• NI Labview-runtime 2014
• NI VISA-RUNTIME
Note: Before using the UART/USB bridge FT2232H, the Virtual Com Port (VCP D2XX) driver needs to be installed. It
can be downloaded by the FTDI Chip website.
Figure 1. EVAL-L9963-MCU board
Figure 2. EVAL-L9963-NDS board
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What you need
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2Board description
Figure 3. Main components and connectors
Note: 1. EVAL-L9963-MCU can be considered the only stage or the first stage of several stages. The port is the
isolated vertical interface to the next stage (EVAL-L9963-NDS);
2. A second L9963T (optional) may be needed to create a direct loop with the last stage (dual ring access);
3. MCU can be supplied either by USB or by L9001 (PMIC);
4. On board MCU can be bypassed in case a different MCU is needed for the user trials; these pins allow
an SPI connection with an external MCU (upon a specific board configuration). Anyway a specific board
derivative of EVAL-L9963-MCU has been designed for this purpose (same form factor/layout with MCU not
mounted: EVAL- L9963).
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Board description
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3Block diagram
Figure 4. EVAL-L9963-MCU block diagram
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Block diagram
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4Microcontroller Power supply
Figure 5. Microcontroller Power supply
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Microcontroller Power supply
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5L9963 external connection and power supply
Figure 6. L9963 external connection and power supply
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L9963 external connection and power supply
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6Transceiver settings
Figure 7. Transceiver settings
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Transceiver settings
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7Possible connection for battery simulation
Figure 8. Battery simulation 1
Figure 9. Battery simulation 2
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Possible connection for battery simulation
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8Preliminary action to open the GUI
Install the following SW on your PC:
• NI Labview-runtime 2014
• NI VISA-RUNTIME
• FTDI driver
– Before using the UART/USB bridge FT2232H, the Virtual Com Port (VCP) driver needs to be installed.
It can be downloaded by the FTDI Chip website.
When all is installed reboot your PC and open STSW-L9963.exe
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Preliminary action to open the GUI
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9USB to PC connection
Figure 10. USB to PC connection
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USB to PC connection
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10 Device Manager appearance
If FTDI Virtual COM PORT (VCP D2XX) driver has been correctly installed, you will find in Windows Device
manager a USB serial port under Ports (COM&LPT). Take note of the COM port number (i.e. COM13).
Figure 11. Windows Device Manger COM port number
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Device Manager appearance
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11 GUI usage and setup
11.1 Connection
Steps:
1. Select COM port according to your device manager. The COM led will become green;
2. Press on “get firmware version” button to check the communication with uC and the firmware version. The
version should be 1.5;
3. In the “ID assignment” text box write 1 because you are using 1 L9963 then press “Configure IDs Button”,
ACK LED will become green. If D13 LED on the board was switched OFF it will be switched ON and will not
switch OFF anymore.
Figure 12. GUI connection
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GUI usage and setup
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11.2 Threshold configuration
Steps:
1. Select Cell overvoltage and undervoltage. i.e. UV 2.8 V and OV 4.250 V;
2. The VCELL_THRESH_UV_OV register will be automatically updated;
3. Select Dev ID 1;
4. Select Write;
5. Press on “Single write/read” button;
6. If communication with L9963 is ok the ACK LED will become green.
Figure 13. Threshold configuration 1
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Threshold configuration
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Steps:
1. Select Battery overvoltage and undervoltage. i.e. UV 39.2 V and OV 59.5 V;
2. The VBAT_SUM_TH register will be automatically updated;
3. Select Dev ID 1;
4. Select Write;
5. Press on “Single write/read” button;
6. If communication with L9963 is ok the ACK LED will become green.
Figure 14. Threshold configuration 2
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Threshold configuration
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11.3 Measure enabling
Steps:
1. Select cell voltage gauge with the EN check box. At least Cells 1, 2, 13, 14 must be selected;
2. The VCELLS_EN register will be automatically updated;
3. Select Dev ID 1;
4. Select Write;
5. Press on “Single write/read” button;
6. If communication with L9963 it’s ok the ACK LED will become green.
Figure 15. Measure enabling
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Measure enabling
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11.4 Measure starting
Steps:
1. Select time interval. i.e. 100 ms. This is the refresh rate of GUI measurement;
2. Press on “Time interval” button to apply setting. ACK LED will become green;
3. Check Diagnostic checkbox to start measurement.
Figure 16. Measure starting
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Measure starting
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11.5 Alternative measure setting
Figure 17. Alternative measure setting
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Alternative measure setting
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11.6 Measurements example
Figure 18. Setup
Figure 19. Results
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Measurements example
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11.7 Diagnostic
All the diagnostics are available in the Diagnostic-Information tab. They are updated at the same rate as
measurement.
Figure 20. Diagnostic
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Diagnostic
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Appendix A Reference documents
Table 1. Reference documents
Doc Name ID Title
UM2698 034111 EVAL-L9963-MCU Evaluation Board
UM2734 034356 L9963 evaluation graphical user interface
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Reference documents
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