Ultra Small Xenon Photoflash Drivers Optimize Cost and Minimize PCB Space

Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. announces two new Xenon photoflash charger ICs with robust features in an extremely small footprint. The new A8732 and A8735 represent the latest generation of drivers that are designed to meet the needs of ultra low power, small form factor cameras, including camera phones.

Size and cost are minimized through the high level of integration and minimal components required, while using a tiny 2 × 2 mm DFN package. Battery life is extended by utilizing primary-side voltage sensing to remove the need for a secondary-side voltage divider and associated leakage current. Furthermore, these devices feature very low supply current in both shutdown and standby mode.

The switch current limit in the A8732 can be programmed from 0.45 to 1.5 in 16 steps with single wire interface, while the current limit for the A8735 is fixed at the popular setting of 1 A. The IGBT driver also has internal gate resistors for minimum external component count. The charge and trigger voltage logic thresholds are set at 1 VHI(min) to support applications implementing low-voltage control logic such as mobile phones.

The devices are available in an 8-contact 2 mm × 2 mm DFN package with a 0.60 maximum overall package height. These devices are priced at $0.47 in quantities of 1,000.