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Heralded as the first ballast controller supporting a choice of standard or low-cost power circuitry, the L6520 controller affords the choice of using low-cost bipolar power switches without compromising reliability, ensuring high-energy efficiency and integrating important features on-chip while reducing BOM costs. Features include an operating temperature range from -25 °C up to +85°C, a digital control core integrating all functions, programmable pre-heating, a proprietary current-control circuit featuring over-current, over-voltage, choke-saturation control, and hard switching protection, storage-time compensation circuitry for bipolar transistors, lamp end-of-life, and compatibility with series or parallel lamp topologies and different power ranges. Pricing for the L6520/1 is $0.70 each/1,000. STMICROELECTRONICS, Lexington, MA. (888) 787-3550.