Fluorescent Lamp Ballast Controller Minimizes Component Count

Infineon’s newest lamp ballast controller features intelligent digital/mixed-signal power control. The ICB2FL01G controller integrates power factor correction (PFC), lamp controller, and high-voltage half-bridge driver functions into a compact, surface-mounted package. It integrates all of the lamp start, run, and protection features required by current fluorescent lamp ballasts (see the figure).

Infineon’s proprietary coreless transformer technology (CLT) is used for high voltage isolation. CLT offers excellent immunity from positive as well as negative transients.

Digital/mixed signal power control enables stable, dependable ballast designs to be implemented with minimal external components and cost. Depending on the application, more than 20 components, including capacitors, diodes and resistors, can be saved. In addition, parameters can be set using only resistors, which avoids the trimming and aging issues associated with the use of capacitors in existing solutions. Special built-in test modes help ballast manufacturers shorten production test times, halving the time for key tests such as end-of-life detection and preheat operation modes.

Typical applications for the ICB2FL01G product are electronic ballasts for compact fluorescent lamps, linear fluorescent T5 and T8 lamps, dimmable fluorescent lamps, and emergency lighting.

The ICB2FL01G lamp ballast controller is sampling now, with volume production scheduled for January 2009. It comes in a standard lead-free DSO package with 19 pins. A full-featured demo board is available.

Infineon Technologies AG
www.infineon.com/lighting