Supercapacitor-Based LED Flash Driver Has 0.55-mm Profile

Combining LED flash driver and power management in one device, the NCP5680 extends battery life and improves digital photo quality. The NCP5680 LED flash driver, which comes housed in a 0.55-mm low-profile package, is capable of delivering up to 10 A for photo flash and video light in ultra-slim camera phones and compact digital cameras. To produce high-resolution pictures in low-light conditions, cameras of 5 megapixels or more require a high-intensity flash. Today’s WLEDs can deliver this level of light energy, but require up to 400 percent more power than a camera battery can provide. When paired with a thin, prismatic supercapacitor, the NCP5680 complements the lithium-ion battery by supplying this necessary high-peak-current for flash lighting. Fully programmable control of charging and discharging of the supercapacitor and overload protection ensures the right amount of light is provided for high-quality photography. The integrated driver can also power other high-peak-current circuits in portable systems, such as audio amplifiers, extending the useful battery operating time. In addition, it provides all the circuitry required to charge the supercapacitor, manage in-rush current, and control LED current. The I²C registers in the NCP5680 allow users to adjust the output current and flash duration of each of the two LEDs in real time. Built-in protection mechanisms shield the flash circuitry and LED from any faulty conditions of the driving circuit. Available in the 3.5-mm x 3.5-mm x 0.55-mm micro-QFN-24 package, the NCP5680 is priced at $1.10 per unit in 3000-unit quantities. ON SEMICONDUCTOR, Phoenix, AZ. (888)-743-7826.