Date: 23/09/2009

1.5A white LED flash driver from Maxim for handheld electronic apps

Maxim has introduced the MAX8834Y/MAX8834Z flash drivers that packs a 1.5A PWM DC-DC step-up converter, three programmable low-side, and a low-dropout LED current regulators. The suggested applications are cell phones, smart phones, PDAs, digital cameras, and camcorders.

The step-up converter features an internal switching MOSFET and synchronous rectifier for better efficiency and to minimize the external components. An I²C interface provides flexible control of step-up converter output voltage setting, movie/flash mode selection, flash timer duration settings, and current regulator settings.

The MAX8834Y/MAX8834Z operating input voltage range from 2.5V to 5.5V, and consist of two current regulators for the flash/movie mode. Each current regulator can sink 750mA in flash mode and 125mA in movie mode. The MAX8834Y/MAX8834Z also integrate a 16mA low-current regulator used to indicate camera status. The indicator current regulator includes programmable ramp and blink timer settings. A programmable input current limit, invoked using the GSMB control, reduces the total current drawn from the battery during PA transmit events. Additionally, the MAX8834Y/MAX8834Z include a MAXFLASH function that reduces flash current during low battery conditions and prevents system undervoltage lockup.

The other key features include,

2MHz and 4MHz switching frequency options
Low-dropout voltage (110mV max) at 500mA
I²C programmable safety and watchdog timers
Remote temperature sensor input
Open/Short LED detection, Thermal shutdown protection
< 1µA of shutdown current

Package: 20-bump, 0.5mm pitch, 2.5mm x 2.0mm WLP package
Availability: Now
An MAX8834YEVKIT evaluation kit is available
For more details visit www.maxim-ic.com