General Description

The MAX5946L evaluation kit (EV kit) is a fully assembled

and tested surface-mount, dual hot-plug controller circuit

board for two PCI Express™ hot-plug slots. The circuit

uses a MAX5946L IC in a 36-pin thin QFN package. The

EV kit provides independent power control for the 12V,

3.3V, and 3.3V auxiliary outputs at two PCI Express-16

connectors. The EV kit demonstrates the MAX5946L IC’s

inrush current control, output overcurrent/short-circuit

protection, and input undervoltage monitoring features.

The MAX5946L IC controls two separate external n-chan-

nel MOSFETs for the 12V and 3.3V outputs of each chan-

nel, respectively. Additionally, the MAX5946L has two

internal MOSFETs that control the 3.3V auxiliary outputs

of channels A and B. Switches on the EV kit are provided

to independently enable/disable each channels’

12V/3.3V and 3.3V auxiliary supply.

The MAX5946L EV kit can be reconfigured to evaluate an

x1, x4, or x8 PCI Express dual hot-plug design.

Alternatively, the EV kit can also be used to demonstrate

the MAX5946L hot-plug features without using the PCI

Express-16 connectors.

The EV kit includes a MAX7313 I/O expander that

enables communication through an SMBus™ interface

for the MAX5946L signals and some of the PCI Express

channel A and B signals. An SMBus interface board

(CMODUSB) can be used to enable PC communication

through the SMBus interface. Simple Windows

the MAX7313 I/O expander registers at the bit level. The

MAX5946L EV kit can be used in local control without

any software.

Order the MAX5946LEVCMODU for a complete PC-

based evaluation of the MAX5946L. Order the

MAX5946LEVKIT if you already have a CMODUSB

SMBus interface board or do not require PC-based eval-

uation of the MAX5946L.

Features

♦ Demonstrates PCI Express-16 Dual Hot-Plug

Design

♦ Independent Output Controls for Each Channel

♦ 12V at Up to 5.5A (Adjustable)

♦ 3.3V at Up to 3A (Adjustable)

♦ 3.3VAux at Up to 0.375A

♦ Evaluates Hot-Plugging PCI Express x1, x4, x8, or

x16 Cards

♦ Demonstrates Input Inrush-Current Control

♦ Demonstrates Output Overcurrent/Short-Circuit

Protection

♦ Monitors Input Undervoltage for 12V, 3.3V, and

3.3VAux with Status Reports

♦ Configurable Power-On Reset (POR)

♦ Independent On/Off Controls for Channels A/B

(12V/3.3V and 3.3VAux)

♦ Independent +3.3VAux Output with Separate

On/Off Control

♦ Latched Output after Fault Conditions (12V, 3.3V,

3.3VAux)

♦ Input/Output Interface Using a MAX7313 I/O

Expander (SMBus Interface) or Local Control

♦ Controlled Locally without Software

♦ Windows 98/2000/XP-Compatible Software

♦ Surface-Mount Components

♦ Fully Assembled and Tested

MAX5946L Evaluation Kit/Evaluation System

________________________________________________________________ Maxim Integrated Products

1

Ordering Information

19-3621; Rev 0; 1/05

For pricing, delivery, and ordering information, please contact Maxim Direct at 1-888-629-4642,

or visit Maxim's website at www.maxim-ic.com.

*EP = Exposed paddle.

PCI Express is a trademark of PCI-SIG Corp.

SMBus is a trademark of Intel Corp.

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.

PART

TEMP

RANGE

IC

PACKAGE

SMBus

INTERFACE

TYPE

MAX5946LEVKIT

0°C to +70°C

36-Thin

QFN-EP*

Not Included

MAX5946LEVCMODU 0°C to +70°C

36-Thin

QFN-EP*

CMODUSB

Note: The MAX5946L EV kit software is provided with the

MAX5946LEVKIT. However, the CMODUSB interface board is

required to interface the EV kit to the computer when using the

software.

MAX5946LEVCMODU

(MAX5946L EV System)

Component List

PART

QTY

DESCRIPTION

MAX5946LEVKIT

1

MAX5946L evaluation kit

CMODUSB

1

SBMus interface board