MIC23150-GYMT-EV - 2A 4MHz Buck Eval Board | Microchip
MPN: MIC23150-GYMT-EV ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1 | $1.00 |
MIC23150-GYMT-EV Overview
A DC-DC buck regulator (step-down converter) is a switched-mode power conversion IC that reduces a higher input voltage to a lower output voltage using an inductor, a switching MOSFET stage, and an output capacitor. Within the power-management hierarchy, the MIC23150 sits in the point-of-load switching-regulator tier, below full power modules and above linear LDO regulators where efficiency matters.
Key performance characteristics of the onboard MIC23150 include HyperLight Load architecture, which delivers very high efficiency at light loads and ultra-fast transient response, a 4MHz PWM switching frequency that permits a very small inductor down to 0.47uH, and an output capacitor as small as 2.2uF. This enables a total power solution under 1mm height, which is critical for space-constrained designs. Peak efficiency reaches 93% in continuous conduction mode, and output ripple remains very low across the entire load range.
The HyperLight Load architecture blends PWM operation at heavy load with a proprietary mode at light load, avoiding the large ripple penalty of conventional pulse-skipping schemes while still slashing quiescent current to 23uA. This makes the part well suited for supplying processor core voltages that swing from sleep current to ampere-class bursts, with exceptionally small output voltage excursions during load transients.
Typical evaluation scenarios include powering application processors and FPGAs with steep load steps, validating point-of-load rails in portable and battery-powered equipment, and characterizing efficiency and ripple in sub-1mm-height power stages for smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices.
A key design consideration when using the board is that the input source must supply more than 2A at 2.7V, per the Microchip evaluation board user guide, and load testing can use either an active electronic load or a passive resistive load.
This page adds value beyond the manufacturer datasheet by consolidating distributor sourcing links, evaluation-board usage guidance, and the chip-level specifications engineers need before committing to the MIC23150 design.
Drop-in alternatives for MIC23150-GYMT-EV — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MIC23150-GYMT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MIC23150-GYMT-EV Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | Evaluation Board for MIC23150-GYMT Synchronous Buck Regulator |
| Regulator Topology | Synchronous buck (step-down) with HyperLight Load |
| Maximum Output Current | 2 A |
| Switching Frequency | 4 MHz (PWM) |
| Peak Efficiency | 93% (continuous conduction mode) |
| Quiescent Current | 23 uA |
| Minimum Inductor | 0.47 uH |
| Minimum Output Capacitor | 2.2 uF |
| Minimum Solution Height | Less than 1 mm |
| Onboard Regulator Package | 8-pin MLF (surface mount) |
| Output Voltage (CYMT option) | 1.0 V fixed |
| Required Input Supply | Greater than 2 A capability at 2.7 V |
| Supported Load Type | Active (electronic) or passive (resistive) load |
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology (originally Micrel Semiconductor) |
| Product Family | Power Management IC Development Tools |
| Transient Response | Ultra-fast, exceptionally small output voltage excursion |
| Output Ripple | Very low across entire load range |
MIC23150-GYMT-EV Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for MIC23150-GYMT-EV. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for connector and header details.
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
MIC23150-GYMT-EV is suitable for 6 applications: Processor Core Power Supply, Sub-1mm Point-of-Load Rails in Mobile Devices, Battery-Powered IoT and Wearable Devices, FPGA and SoC Power Trees, Post-Regulation After DC-DC Converters, Evaluation and Reference Design Benchmarking.
Processor Core Power Supply
The primary target application for the MIC23150 is supplying application processor core voltages, and the MIC23150-GYMT-EV board lets engineers validate this use case directly. The 2A continuous output covers typical mobile processor core load bursts, while the 1.0V fixed output of the CYMT option matches common core rails. HyperLight Load operation responds to steep load steps with exceptionally small output voltage excursion, protecting core timing margins during wake events from sleep states where the regulator draws only 23uA. Evaluating on this board confirms transient droop and ripple against your processor's power integrity requirements before layout.
Recommended
Sub-1mm Point-of-Load Rails in Mobile Devices
Smartphones, tablets, and wearables demand point-of-load converters that fit under shielding cans thinner than 1mm. The onboard MIC23150 operates at 4MHz, allowing an inductor as small as 0.47uH and an output capacitor as small as 2.2uF, achieving a total solution height below 1mm. The evaluation board demonstrates this compact bill of materials with a known-good layout, so engineers can measure actual efficiency - peaking at 93% in continuous conduction mode - and copy the arrangement directly. Validating thermal and EMI behavior on the board de-risks the extremely dense layouts typical of mobile power trees.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT and Wearable Devices
Battery-operated IoT nodes spend most of their life in sleep, making light-load efficiency the dominant battery-life factor. The MIC23150 draws just 23uA quiescent current while retaining 2A burst capability for radio or sensor-array activation, and HyperLight Load keeps output ripple low even at microamp loads. The MIC23150-GYMT-EV board allows precise efficiency characterization from sleep to burst currents using either an electronic or resistive load. Engineers can quantify charge drawn per wake event and confirm the regulator does not discharge the battery during standby, directly informing battery sizing and runtime models.
Recommended
FPGA and SoC Power Trees
FPGA and SoC rails impose both high dynamic load steps and strict ripple limits. The MIC23150's 4MHz PWM frequency pushes ripple well above sensitive analog bands while its HyperLight Load architecture supplies ampere-class bursts within exceptionally small voltage excursions - per Microchip, ultra-fast transient response is a headline feature for exactly this class of load. The evaluation board provides a reference for measuring droop under programmable electronic load steps that emulate FPGA fabric switching. With 93% peak efficiency and 2A continuous rating, a single MIC23150 stage can feed core or I/O banks in compact systems.
Recommended
Post-Regulation After DC-DC Converters
In multi-rail systems, the MIC23150 works well as a secondary point-of-load stage cleaning up the output of upstream switching converters or providing local regulation near sensitive loads. Very low output ripple voltage throughout the entire load range - stated in the datasheet as a benefit of the proprietary HyperLight Load architecture - protects noise-sensitive downstream circuits. The evaluation board supports 2.7V input supply testing, matching the typical output of a first-stage converter. Engineers can measure PSRR-like ripple attenuation and decide the optimal intermediate bus voltage for their cascaded power architecture.
Recommended
Evaluation and Reference Design Benchmarking
As a Power Management IC Development Tools product, the board's core purpose is lab evaluation: measuring efficiency curves, load transient response, startup behavior, and output ripple against competing regulators. Per Microchip's evaluation board user guide, the input source must deliver more than 2A at 2.7V, and both active electronic loads and passive resistive loads are supported. The fitted 0.47uH inductor and 2.2uF output capacitor represent the minimum recommended bill of materials, giving a benchmark for the smallest viable solution. Results obtained here transfer directly to production schematics using the MIC23150-GYMT.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MIC23150-GYMT-EV — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MIC23150-GYMT |
|---|---|---|
| Product Type | Evaluation board | Regulator IC |
| Package | Evaluation board (carries 8-pin MLF IC) | 8-pin MLF |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Output Current | Supports testing up to 2 A | 2 A |
| Switching Frequency | 4 MHz (onboard device) | 4 MHz |
| Output Voltage (CYMT option) | 1.0 V fixed | 1.0 V fixed |
| Quiescent Current | 23 uA (onboard device) | 23 uA |
| Peak Efficiency | 93% (CCM) | 93% (CCM) |
| Use Case | Lab evaluation and reference layout | Production BOM placement |
Key Differentiators
- HyperLight Load light-load efficiency (vs MIC23150-GYMT (bare IC, identical die))
- Minimum-BOM reference layout (vs MIC23150-GYMT)
- Fast validation versus custom prototyping (vs MIC23150-GYMT)
Design Notes
Per the Microchip MIC23150-GYMT Evaluation Board User Guide, the input source must deliver greater than 2A at 2.7V. A bench supply limited to 1-1.5A will current-limit during full-load testing and produce misleading transient results. When measuring light-load efficiency, account for the 23uA quiescent current of the device itself and for meter burden voltage; a DMM in series at microamp loads can add enough voltage drop to disturb the reading.
The onboard MIC23150 achieves its sub-1mm solution height with a 0.47uH inductor and 2.2uF output capacitor. When replicating the reference layout in your own PCB, keep the inductor and input/output capacitor loops tight, mirror the evaluation board's component placement, and use a solid ground plane. At 4MHz switching frequency, even a few nH of extra loop inductance measurably increases switching spike amplitude and EMI.
Note the suffix convention: the GYMT option of the MIC23150 provides a fixed 1.0V output; other factory options in the family provide different setpoints. Ordering the bare IC with the wrong suffix after evaluating the board will not reproduce the measured rail voltage. Also remember that the MIC23150 was originally a Micrel Semiconductor part - some distributor databases still index it under Micrel, which can complicate lifecycle and stock searches.
Compliance Information
No compliance data for the evaluation board was found in the provided web data. Evaluation boards are typically exempt from RoHS scope as test equipment, but confirm with Microchip.
