Constant-Current LED Drivers Target High-Brightness Lamps

Thanks to a stepdown dc-dc design, the LDM12-xx series of miniature LED drivers can drive LED strings up to 14 V dc. The series, available from MicroPower Direct, includes six models that operate from a 7 to 16 V dc input. They provide constant-current outputs of 300, 350, 500, 600, 700, or 1000 mA. Standard features include 93% efficiency, short-circuit protection, and an analog or pulse-width-modulation (PWM) dimming control input. MTBF (per MIL HDBK 217F) is greater than 3.3 Mhours. Packaging for all models is a DIP case that measures a mere 0.5 by 0.40 by 0.27 in. Their industrial operating temperature range is −40 to +85°C ambient (no derating or heatsinking is required). Cooling is via free-air convection. The drivers are particularly suited to applications featuring LED lamps.