National Semiconductor Introduces New High-Brightness LED Driver with Temperature Management Control
National Semiconductor Corp. today announced a new LED driver with temperature management control and the addition of an online design environment to support it. The LM3424, a member of National’s PowerWise® energy-efficient product family, drives high-brightness LEDs in a variety of indoor, outdoor and automotive applications.
Supported in National’s WEBENCH® LED Designer, its temperature management control, thermal foldback, enables lighting designers to quickly and easily design a reliable thermal system using the LM3424.
Thermal foldback combats high temperatures LEDs can reach as a result of environmental conditions. When LED temperatures rise above a safe threshold, the lifetime and efficacy of the LED decreases. With the LM3424, lighting designers can program temperature and slope breakpoints within which the LEDs operate safely. When an over-temperature condition occurs, the LM3424’s thermal foldback circuitry reduces the regulated current through the LEDs. The reduced current dims the LED to a range programmed by the designer and the LED remains within the range until it returns to a safe operating temperature.
This method of thermal foldback maintains the lifetime and efficacy of the LED and ensures the warranty period of fixtures in applications such as automotive headlights, high bay warehouse lighting and street lighting.
National’s WEBENCH LED Designer helps lighting designers identify the ideal temperature threshold or foldback breakpoint of the LEDs. Traditionally, resistor values are calculated by hand to identify temperature foldback breakpoints. The WEBENCH online design environment allows the designer to easily enter the temperature foldback and slope points and then visualize the behavior of the design at different LED temperatures. This requires no hand calculations. An interactive temperature slider shows the results graphically. The LED driver design automatically updates with entry of temperature breakpoint requirements.
Technical Features of National’s LM3424 LED Driver:
Offered in a 20-pin thermally enhanced TSSOP package, the LM3424 drives up to 18 high-brightness LEDs in series with output current above 2A in a typical application. It contains all of the features to regulate currents based on buck, boost, SEPIC, flyback and buck-boost topologies.
Supported in National’s WEBENCH® LED Designer, its temperature management control, thermal foldback, enables lighting designers to quickly and easily design a reliable thermal system using the LM3424.
Thermal foldback combats high temperatures LEDs can reach as a result of environmental conditions. When LED temperatures rise above a safe threshold, the lifetime and efficacy of the LED decreases. With the LM3424, lighting designers can program temperature and slope breakpoints within which the LEDs operate safely. When an over-temperature condition occurs, the LM3424’s thermal foldback circuitry reduces the regulated current through the LEDs. The reduced current dims the LED to a range programmed by the designer and the LED remains within the range until it returns to a safe operating temperature.
This method of thermal foldback maintains the lifetime and efficacy of the LED and ensures the warranty period of fixtures in applications such as automotive headlights, high bay warehouse lighting and street lighting.
National’s WEBENCH LED Designer helps lighting designers identify the ideal temperature threshold or foldback breakpoint of the LEDs. Traditionally, resistor values are calculated by hand to identify temperature foldback breakpoints. The WEBENCH online design environment allows the designer to easily enter the temperature foldback and slope points and then visualize the behavior of the design at different LED temperatures. This requires no hand calculations. An interactive temperature slider shows the results graphically. The LED driver design automatically updates with entry of temperature breakpoint requirements.
Technical Features of National’s LM3424 LED Driver:
Offered in a 20-pin thermally enhanced TSSOP package, the LM3424 drives up to 18 high-brightness LEDs in series with output current above 2A in a typical application. It contains all of the features to regulate currents based on buck, boost, SEPIC, flyback and buck-boost topologies.
| Parameters | Values |
| Topology | Buck-boost, Boost, Buck and SEPIC |
| Input Min Voltage | 3.5 Volt |
| Input Max Voltage | 75 Volt |
| Output Range | Buck-boost: above 3.5V, Boost: VIN to 75V |
| Efficiency (peak) | 96 % |
| Output Min | 3.5 Volt |
| Special Features | Thermal Foldback, PWM dimming, Analog dimming, Synchronization |
| Adjustable Output | Yes |
| On/Off Pin | Yes |
| Error Flag | No |
| Adj Switch Frequency | Yes |
| Sync Pin | Yes |
| Step-Down | Yes |
| Step-Up | Yes |
| RegType | LED Driver |
| Temperature Min | -40 deg C |
| Temperature Max | 125 deg C |
| Feedback Voltage | .1 Volt |
| AEC Q-100 Automotive Grade | 0 |
| Automotive Selection Guide | Yes |
| PowerWise | Yes |
For more information or to order samples and an evaluation board, visit http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM3424.html.
Availability and Pricing:
Available now, National’s LM3424 and is priced at $1.75 in 1,000-unit quantities. More information about National’s LED drivers is available at http://www.national.com/analog/led .
About National Semiconductor:
National Semiconductor is a leader in analog power management technology. Its products include easy-to-use integrated circuits, PowerWise products that enable more energy-efficient systems, and SolarMagic™ products which improve the energy output of solar arrays. The company celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., National reported sales of $1.46 billion for fiscal 2009. Additional information is available at www.national.com .
