LED drivers for general lighting achieve 98% efficiency

Infineon Technologies announces additions to its family of switch-mode LED drivers with new devices for high-power LEDs used in general lighting applications. Combining a thermal protection feature for extended LED lifetime with flexibility in output current range from 350 mA up to multiple amperes, the new drivers are well suited for the design of highly-efficient indoor and outdoor lighting.

The new ILD series includes LED driver ICs with integrated power stage as well as external MOSFET achieving up to 98% driver efficiency across a wide range of general lighting applications, including MR16 halogen retrofits, residential and commercial luminaires, architectural lighting, and street lamps. In addition to high output current range, the ILD family provides flexibility with two different dimming methods, analog and PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). Besides the over-current protection, the ILD drivers also offer an over-temperature protection tailored to protect the LEDs and the LED driver IC from thermal overstress, delivering the maximum possible operating life of the lamps and fixtures.

Researchers at Strategies Unlimited estimate global sales of 227 million LED driver IC units for lighting in 2011. Further, the world market for LED driver ICs for lighting is forecast to grow from $114.7 million in 2011 to $585.4 million in 2015, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 50%.

The devices in the ILD series are designed for specific LED currents or applications. For example, the ILD2035 is designed for MR16 lamps with 1-W LEDs. Another example is the ILD4001, where the features and protection functions are included into a standalone LED controller and an external MOSFET is used as a power stage. Three devices – ILD4001, ILD4035 and ILD2035 – will be available in SC-74 packages with very small form factors and the fourth device – ILD4120 – comes in a DSO-8 package with exposed pad.

The ILD family includes input voltages from 4.5 to 42 V for ILD4001 and 4.5 to 40 V for ILD4035 and ILD4120. Dimming can be implemented using PWM managed by a microcontroller or analog control voltage.

The company offers design support, including demonstration boards, application notes, and an online design tool that can be used for part selection, reference design generation, verification, and BOM (bill of material) creation.

For more information, contact Infineon Technologies North American Corp., 640 N. McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035. Phone: 408-503-2791.