LED driver features high efficiency and precise current control

Supertex Inc. announces the HV9957, a six-channel LED driver that provides strong protection from faulty LED strings. HV9957 combines a switch-mode boost converter and six low dropout, linear current regulators to deliver high efficiency and precise current control in an LED driver.

The IC can drive up to six strings of LEDs at 30 mA each, making it well suited for battery-powered LED backlighting applications. Temperature-triggered fault protection combined with an "outlier" approach to identifying faulty strings overcomes several issues inherent to traditional fault protection. Faulty strings are turned off only when absolutely necessary.

HV9957 offers protection from fault conditions such as over and under-voltage supply, over-current, and over-temperature. When a fault is detected, the affected LED string is removed from feedback and the rest of the strings continue normal operation. The new driver is available in a 24-lead QFN package (HV9957K7-G) and is RoHS compliant.

For more information, contact Supertex Inc., 1235 Bordeaux Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94089. Phone: (800) 222-9883.