Date: 14/05/2010

New CFL bulb drivers from NXP with better dimming capabilities

NXP unveiled two new generations of compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) light bulb drivers and controllers, based on its GreenChip technology the UBA2027 family which enables customers to develop CFL bulbs for energy saving lamps that provide smoother dimming capabilities to levels below 10 percent and the UBA221x family for non-dimming CFL bulbs.

"We designed our CFL drivers to enable consumers to go green without the frustrations of conventional CFL bulbs. With governments all over the world prohibiting the production of incandescent light bulbs, a new energy-efficient lighting solution was required, one that meets consumer expectations of cost, reliability, lifetime and overall user experience," said John Croteau, senior vice president & general manager, Business Lines High Performance RF, Power & Lighting, NXP Semiconductors. "With 20 to 25 percent of the electricity produced in the world consumed in lighting applications, and over 5 billion energy saving bulbs to be sold in 2012 according to Datapoint Research, NXP's next generation of CFL lighting drivers break open the next 'killer application' for power management ICs. Backed by GreenChip technology, and NXP's ability to manufacture to scale, the economics are staggering."

Traditional CFL lighting solutions can only be dimmed between 20 to 30 %, ideal dimming capability is 10%. These CFL bulbs are said to achieve this level. GreenChip technology also accelerates the ramp up time and therefore igniting the bulbs faster.