Micrel, Inc. introduced the MIC2873/ MIC2874, an ultra-compact, camera flash LED driver that integrates a 1.2 A boost converter and LED driver circuit into a small 9 pin, 1.3 mm by 1.3 mm chip scale package. Operating from 2.7 V to 5.5 V and featuring up to 92 percent efficiency, these solutions are ideally suited for Li-Ion battery operated portable applications such as phone cameras, tablet computers, handset video equipment, and digital cameras. High switching frequencies (2 MHz for the MIC2873 and 4MHz for the MIC2874) allow for the use of a miniature size chip inductor and small input/output capacitors, thereby reducing the total power footprint to a solution size to less than 10mm squared.
In addition, these devices can operate in either a flash or torch mode with the ability to provide a boost or linear output using a single wire communication interface or through external pins.
The parts are fully protected against overvoltage and overcurrent conditions with a configurable time-out feature. In addition, these ICs provide LED short circuit detection and a true load disconnect feature for best system reliability. The MIC2873/ MIC2874 devices are fully specified with an ambient temperature range from -40 °C to 85 °C.
The MIC2873/ MIC2874 are available in volume with 1,000 quantities pricing starting at $0.26/$0.30, respectively.