RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE: ECM), a global multi-channel distributor, is now shipping a new board that has been designed for the evaluation of Renesas Electronics’ recently launched ISL81601 bidirectional buck-boost controller IC.

The ISL81601EVAL1Z evaluation board integrates the ISL81601, which is a true bidirectional four-switch 60V high-voltage synchronous buck-boost controller. Employing the silicon vendor’s proprietary buck-boost algorithms, the chip offers peak and average current sensing and monitoring in either buck or boost mode. It can ensure high reliability for end equipment by providing cycle-by-cycle current limiting in fast transient conditions – in both directions and at either the line or load end.

Other capabilities of the ISL81601 include external soft-start, independent enable functions, and a wide series of protection features, including under-voltage, over-voltage/current and over-temperature. The IC also delivers peak efficiency of up to 99% for point-of-load (POL) and voltage rail conversion; a gate driver that delivers up to 20A for the buck-boost output; and programmable switching frequency ranging from 100 to 600kHz, which aids optimisation of inductor size.

The evaluation board offers a very wide input range – from 9V to 60V – and both the board and the IC are suitable for a wide selection of applications such as battery backup, USB Type-C power supplies and chargers, and redundant power supplies.

In addition, due to the chip’s wide input-voltage range, it is expected to be commonly used in telecommunications applications, battery-powered industrial equipment and in the automotive aftermarket, as well as other applications in medical equipment, robots and drones, and security surveillance markets.

The ISL81601EVAL1Z evaluation board from Renesas is shipping now in the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions.