A reliable, efficient control IC for magnetic ballasts used in fluorescent lamps, the IRS2538DS from International Rectifier, emulates the behavior of a magnetic ballast control system. The IC leverages IR's patented ballast and high-voltage technologies in an easy to use, high-performance, cost effective one-chip magnetic replacement ballast solution.
Available in a compact SO-8 package, the IRS2538DS utilizes a novel control method to achieve high power factor with ultra-low THD to eliminate the need for a Power Factor Correction (PFC) stage and electrolytic capacitor at the input. The new IC integrates a 600 V half-bridge control circuit, bootstrap MOSFET and comprehensive set of protection features to further reduce component count and PCB area, and increase reliability.
The IRS2538DS also features preheat, ignition and running lamp modes, closed-loop lamp current control, fixed pre-heat time (2 s typical), adaptive deadtime (0.5 microsec to 1.5 microsec typical), lamp insert auto-restart, micropower start-up (125 microamps) and an internal 15.6 V Zener diode clamp on Vcc.
Pricing for the IRS2538DS begins at US $0.94 each in quantities of 10,000-units. Production quantities are available immediately. The devices are lead free and RoHS compliant.