Switching Regulators Drive High Brightness LEDs Efficiently

Promising to reduce power dissipation in sense resistors by 80% while boosting efficiency by 2%, the NCP3065 switching regulator drives high-brightness LEDs found in low-voltage lighting, landscape path and solar lighting, Halogen bulb replacements, and automotive and marine lighting. The 1.5A monolithic device features a feedback voltage of 235 mV, allowing the use of a smaller and less costly sense resistor. Input voltage range is from 3V to 40V, and the device is configurable for a controller topology with the addition of an external transistor to support higher LED currents beyond the 1.5A switch current of the internal transistor. Available in a 4 mm x 4 mm DFN package, price is $0.32 each/10,000. The device also comes in SOIC-8 and PDIP-8 packages, priced at $0.30 each. ON SEMICONDUCTOR, Phoenix, AZ. (800) 282-9855.