Friday, November 08, 2013: LED drivers and controllers are current control devices that replace the need for resistors. These drivers respond to the changing input voltage while maintaining a constant amount of current (output power) to the LED, as its electrical properties change with temperature. They are commonly used for blinking, dimming and colour mixing of LEDs in various applications, and are classified into three groups—voltage-switch drivers, constant-current drivers and Flash LED drivers.
In this section, we feature some of the LED drivers and controllers that were launched in the last six months. However, companies like STMicroelectronics, Infineon and NXP Semiconductor have not launched any new LED drivers and controllers during this period.
Model: GP-RS45P and GP-RS60P, Brand: GlacialPower, Manufacturer: GlacialTech, Taiwan
Launched in August 2013, the GP-RS45P and GP-RS60P are available in several options ranging from 12V DC to 57V DC. These drivers are also available with a 3-in-1 dimming (1-10V/PWM/resistor) function, and are ideal for any indoor LED lighting solutions.
Key features
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Universal AC input 90 to 305V AC
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The double insulated wiring design ensures that if the wire is externally pulled, the strain relief bushing to the circuit board will not be exposed, hence preventing possible electricity leakages
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High power conversion efficiency: up to 89 per cent
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Constant current and constant voltage operation
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Built-in active PFC (power factor correction) function
Contact details: Nikhil Malhotra, country manager (India), Ph: +886-2-22441227 ext. 311, [email protected], www.glacialpower.com
India distributor: Argos International
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Model: LT3995, Brand: Linear Technology, Manufacturer: Linear Technology, USA
Launched in June 2013, LT3995 is designed to operate as a constant-current source and constant-voltage regulator with an internal 3.5A switch. This driver’s internal PWM dimming generator makes it ideal for driving high current LEDs.
Key features
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Wide VIN range: 4.5 V to 60 V
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Rail-to-rail current sense range: 0 V to 80 V
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Internal 80V/3.5A switch
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Programmable PWM dimming signal generator
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Constant current (±3 per cent) and constant-voltage (±2 per cent) regulation
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Adjustable switching frequency: 100 kHz to 1 Mhz
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Low shutdown current: <1μA
Contact details: Daryl Wan, area sales manager, Ph: 91-80-4012-4610, [email protected], www.linear.com
India distributors: Arrow, element 14 and Digi-Key
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Model: R2A20134, Brand: Renesas, Manufacturer: Renesas Electronics, Japan
Launched in June 2013 for the India market, the R2A20134 LED driver IC supports LED lighting applications with high efficiency and a high power factor, all at a low cost.
Key features
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Applies high-side step-down control so that low-cost MOSFETs can be used
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Delivers power-conversion efficiencies as high as 92 per cent
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Achieves a truly environment-friendly power factor of 0.9 or more
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Accommodates various types of control circuits to provide design flexibility
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Pin=10 W
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Efficiency: 85 per cent or more
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Total harmonic distortion [THD]: 20 per cent or less
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Output current ripple: 30 per cent or less
Contact details: Renesas Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd, Ph: +91-80-6720-8700, [email protected], sg.renesas.com
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Model: RACD25 series, Brand: RECOM, Manufacturer: RECOM Lighting, Germany
Launched in May 2013, the RACD25 series 25W modules are long and sleek in shape. They are ideal as a power source for the conversion from fluorescent lamps to modern LED technology.
Since these drivers are IP65 rated, they can even be installed in moist facilities like garages or in outdoor installations, without any worries.
Key features
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The drivers are optionally available with a constant output current of 500, 700, 1050 or 1400 mA and reach an efficiency of up to 85 per cent
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With their wide input voltage range of 90 to 295V AC, they are perfectly qualified for applications worldwide
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To meet the requirements of EN61000-3-2 Class C, the modules are equipped with a standard active power correction, which also keeps the EMV load of the electricity grid low
Contact details: RECOM Asia Pte Ltd, Cai Yahui, marketing manager, Ph: +656276-8795, [email protected], www.recomasia.com
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Model: NCL30083, Brand: ON Semiconductor, Manufacturer: ON Semiconductor, USA
Launched in April 2013, the NCL30083 is a PWM current mode controller targeting isolated flyback and non-isolated buck-boost constant current topologies. To enhance system lifetime, it has current fold-back at a user programmable temperature point. While the NCL30083 has integrated fixed over-voltage protection, the designer has the option to program a lower over-voltage protection level.
Key features
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Wide Vcc range, precise LED constant current regulation of ±1 per cent (typical) and user programmable thermal fold-back
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0.9 power factor with passive valley fill, analogue and digital dimming control, built-in protection functions, and latched and auto-recoverable versions
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5-step dimmable to < 5 per cent output current
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Wide temperature range of -40º to 125 °C
Contact details: Kelvin Tsiang, marketing manager, Application Products Group, Ph: (852)2689-0088, [email protected], www.onsemi.com
India distributors: Arrow Electronics India Pvt Ltd, Avnet India
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Model: TPS92660 and TPS92640/1, Brand: TI, Manufacturer: Texas Instruments Inc. (TI),USA
Launched in April 2013, the TPS92660 two-string LED driver addresses the challenges of precise colours and brightness control in lighting, which designers face in creating high-quality light engines for commercial area lighting, including architectural and retail displays, LED-based projection systems and automotive running lights.
Key features
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Its analogue or pulse width modulation (PWM) input signals can be used for brightness and colour adjustment after ROM programming
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I2C and on-time programmable
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ROM for trim of white CCT and lumen output eliminates need for binned LEDs
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Accepts PWM or analogue dimming for brightness and colour adjustment
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Integrated 3V ± 3 per cent voltage reference can be used for housekeeping circuits
Contact details: Product Information Centre, Ph: 1-800-425-7888 or +91-80-41381665, [email protected], www.ti.com/in
India distributors: element14, Arrow Electronics, Mouser Electronics
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Model: TB62D612FTG, Brand: Toshiba, Manufacturer: Toshiba Corporation, Japan
Launched in February 2013, the TB62D612FTG supports common anode LED control systems and is embedded with a 7-bit PWM grey controller and a 24-channel constant-current driver.
Key features
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Its constant-current circuit is divided into three blocks of 8-channel. The electric current of each block can be configured individually by an external resistor, making it ideal for driving RGB-LEDs
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The address of the driver IC can be set with three ID terminals and up to 64 ICs can be controlled individually
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PWM grey level and address selection is configured by an address control interface, supporting simpler wiring that saves space on the circuit board
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Supports 24ch × 40mA (maximum) high power current
Contact details: India office: Toshiba India Pvt Ltd, Ph: 0124 499-6600, www.toshiba-india.com
India distributors: RS Components and Controls India Ltd, Digi Key Corporation
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Model: MSL2021/23/24, Brand: Atmel, Manufacturer: Atmel Corporation, USA
Launched in February 2013, these two-channel solid state lighting (SSL) LED drivers provide accurate colour control for two-colour LED light engines. In addition, the LED drivers deliver the most efficient power management, with the lowest component count, for high CRI LED lamps.
Key features
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The devices drive one dominant LED string with a linear controller and one colour LED string with a low-side buck controller to achieve the target correlated colour temperature (CCT) coordinate, and replicate the colour spectrum to attain a high CRI value
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The devices have a look-up table in the EEPROM, so designers can program accurate profiles to follow the desired CCT compensation curve, lowering the overall bill of materials (BOM) cost
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The linear controller for white LEDs in the device family adaptively controls the headroom of any AC/DC or DC/DC, isolated or non-isolated topology, while external MOSFETs give designers the flexibility of choosing LED currents and LED string lengths
Contact details: India office: Atmel India, Ph: +91-80-4154-0551/0552, [email protected], www.atmel.com
India distributors: Arrow Electronics India Pvt Ltd, Avnet India Pvt Ltd
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