Date: 27/05/2010

25W DC/DC Converter drives LEDs and can charge batteries and super-capacitors

Linear Technology has unveiled the LT3956, an 80V high-side current sense DC/DC converter designed to operate as a constant-current and constant-voltage regulator. It is suggested for driving high current LEDs as well as for charging batteries and supercapacitors/ultracapacitors. It operates within an input voltage range of 4.5V to 80V. It is applicable in automotive, industrial and architectural lighting. The LT3956 has an internal N-channel MOSFET that is said to drive up to eighteen 350mA white LEDs from a nominal 12V input, delivering in excess of 25 Watts. It also has a high-side current sense, enabling use in boost, buck, buck-boost or SEPIC and flyback topologies. Linear claims that this converter can deliver efficiencies of over 94% in boost mode, eliminating the need for external heat sinking. It also consists of a frequency adjust pin that can program the frequency between 100kHz and 1MHz. It is said to offer a compact 25 Watt LED driver solution.

The LT3956 also features a True Color PWM dimming, delivering constant LED color with dimming ranges up to 3,000:1. It also provides the CTRL pin for less demanding dimming requirements of 10:1 analog dimming range. It also has a fixed frequency, current mode architecture that can ensure stable operation over a wide range of supply and output voltages. It has a ground-referenced voltage FB pin that can serve as input for several LED protection features.

Package: The LT3956EUHE comes in a 36-pin 5mm x 6mm QFN.

Price:
The LT3956EUHE starts at each US$3.50 for 1,000-piece quantities.
The LT3956IUHE is priced at each US$4.12 for 1,000-piece quantities.

Availability: Now

For more information visit: http://www.linear.com