LED Manager Performs Mobile-Device Lighting Functions

Maxim Integrated Products’ MAX8830 is an LED light-management IC that integrates a dc-dc stepup converter, four current regulators for display backlighting, a camera-flash current regulator, and all power switches. Its efficiency (greater than 90%), flexible operation, and small packaging make the IC ideal for handheld wireless devices.

LED brightness is individually adjustable in 32 steps through the IC’s I²C interface, which can also program the 75-mV, 200-mA flash current regulator LDO to 16 different levels. The same interface programs the output voltage from 3.8 V to 5.2 V in 100-mV increments; switching frequency for the converter is 1 MHz. Prices start at $2.50 for 2500 pieces.