Evaluation Module Overview
1 Evaluation Module Overview
1.1 Introduction
The HSS-HCMOTHERBRDEVM and accompanying daughter card EVMs (such as the HSS-2HCS10EVM) are
hardware evaluation boards used for evaluation and development of Texas Instruments' smart fuse high-side
switch portfolio. A daughter card and motherboard approach is used in the hardware ecosystem to promote
reuse of hardware and software, as well showcase the pin compatibility between different smart fuse devices.
As many of TI's smart fuse high-side switches have a digital SPI interface, this hardware ecosystem is designed
to simplify evaluation and development as well as reduce the need for the user to invest any significant software
resources on the host side. The HSS-HCMOTHERBRDEVM has an integrated TM4C123 Cortex-M4F USB
microcontroller that serves as a USB-to-SPI bridge between a host PC and the attached daughter card EVM.
A simple Windows GUI program titled Smart Fuse Configurator is provided that allows a multitude of features
including:
•
Reading/graphing load current, input/output voltage, and junction temperature via the high-side switch's
integrated ADC
•
Turn on/off channels and set operational settings such as PWM and current limit
•
Providing an interface to tune the I2T curve and compare with a customer wire profile for fuse replacement
•
Monitor device and channel fault status complete with aggregation statistics
•
Setup/configure all register settings of the high-side switch directly from the GUI
•
Direct register reads/writes through console view
•
Export/import settings as well as export development artifacts such as C configuration arrays/structures
The host GUI software is provided both in Windows binary and BSD-licensed source code. The host GUI
does not require special drives, and uses standard Windows USB-HID calls to communicate with the HSS-
HCMOTHERBRDEVM. Only Windows is supported with this EVM ecosystem. The EVM comes with the TM4C
firmware pre-programmed without the need for the user to perform any initial firmware flashing.
1.2 Kit Contents
The EVM kit for the HSS-HCMOTHERBRDEVM includes the following:
•
One HSS-HCMOTHERBRDEVM with MCU pre-flashed at factory with latest firmware
•
One USB-C cable
The kit for the daughter cards are specific to the high-side switch associated with the daughter card. An example
kit contents for the HSS-2HCS10EVM daughter card can be seen below:
•
One HSS-2HCS10EVM daughter card with a TPS2HCS10-Q1 high-side switch device
1.3 Specification
The HSS-HCMOTHERBRDEVM and daughter card boards are meant to be used together to evaluate
automotive applications where high-side switches are used to drive primarily off-board loads. This EVM contains
a pre-flashed microcontoller with firmware that acts as a SPI<-> USB bridge between the high-side switch (SPI)
and the host PC system running the GUI (USB). The EVM is designed for ease-of-use and all that is needed is
to plug in USB and relevant loads, supply power, and evaluate through the GUI. A block diagram of the various
blocks of the EVM can be seen below.
2
Smart Fuse Evaluation Module
Copyright © 2023 Texas Instruments Incorporated
SLVUCR9A – AUGUST 2023 – REVISED OCTOBER 2023
Submit Document Feedback
www.ti.com