

The MAX17106 evaluation kit (EV kit) is a fully assembled and tested surface-mount PCB that provides the voltages and features required for active-matrix TFT LCD applications. The EV kit contains a step-up switching regulator for the MAIN supply, a step-up switching regulator with temperature compensation for the TFT VON supply, a two-stage negative charge pump for the TFT VOFF supply, a linear regulator (LOUT), three high-current op amps (VCOM1, VCOM2, VCOM3), a digitally adjustable VCOM calibration device with nonvolatile memory, two EEPROM memory blocks with separate I²C interfaces, and a high-voltage level-shifting scan driver with complementary outputs for charge sharing during state changes to drive the TFT panel integrated gate drivers. A high-voltage stress (HVS) mode increases the MAIN and VOFF charge-pump output voltages for stress testing the display panel during production.
The EV kit operates from a +2.4V to +5.5V DC supply voltage. The MAIN step-up switching regulator is configured for a +8V output providing at least 300mA. The VON step-up switching regulator is configured for a +22V output (at room temperature) providing at least 20mA. The VOFF negative charge pump is configured for a -12V output providing at least 20mA. The internal linear regulator (LOUT) provides a fixed +2.5V output and 300mA. The three high-current op amps are each configured for a +4V output. Each can source or sink 50mA. The MAX17106 switches at 1.2MHz, allowing the use of tiny surface-mount components. The MAX17106 TQFN package, with low-profile external components, allows this circuit to be less than 1.2mm high.
The EV kit provides two on-board USB interface circuits to communicate with the two separate 2-wire I²C interface circuits in the MAX17106 IC. One of the I²C interface circuits provides the VCOM calibrator (DVR) and 2kb extended display identification data (EDID) EEPROM communication, while the other provides the 16kb timing controller (TCON) EEPROM communication. The MAX17106 I²C interface circuits communicate at a data rate of 100kHz.
The EV kit features Windows® 2000-, Windows XP®-, or Windows Vista®-compatible software that provides the user interface for exercising the MAX17106's features. The MAX17106DVR.EXE software controls the VCOM calibrator and EDID EEPROM, while the MAX17106TCON.EXE software controls the TCON EEPROM in the MAX17106 IC. Both programs are menu-driven and offer a graphical user interface (GUI). The two software programs are independent of one another and can operate alone or simultaneously.
Applications