Date: 04/11/2010

New HBLED driver IC from Micrel for lamps and other lighting apps

Micrel Inc. has introduced the MIC3202, a new Step-Down High Brightness LED (HBLED) driver with high-side current sense targeting MR-16 lamps and other general illumination applications. Micrel says this device reduces the size, complexity and cost of the driver IC solutions for various lighting applications. The MIC3202 is currently available in volume quantities, with pricing starting at $1.29 for 1Ku quantities.

"With the ever increasing concern regarding carbon emissions and energy costs, high-efficiency lighting has become one of the highest growth segments of the electronics market," noted Doyle Slack, senior marketing director for Analog Power, Micrel. "Micrel's LED driver products provide the performance, flexibility and ease-of-use required by LED lighting system designers to meet these challenges."

The MIC3202 can drive up to eight 1A HBLEDs in series at more than 90 percent efficiency with ±5 percent current accuracy from input voltages of 6V to 37V. With its hysteretic control architecture and high-side current sense scheme, the MIC3202 is well positioned to provide constant current with changes in input voltage and output load. The MIC3202 operating frequency is adjustable up to 1MHz to allow flexibility in the design. The MIC3202 features a dedicated PWM dimming pin allowing ultra wide contrast ratios, an enable pin for very low power shutdown, over temperature protection and UVLO. The MIC3202 has an internal power switch and requires no external compensation. In addition to enhanced power driving capability/reliability, the MIC3202 comes in an exposed pad SOIC-8L package.