Linear LED Driver IC
Go for quality with Infineon’s cost-efficient linear LED driver ICs
LED lights have become part of our daily lives. Typical lighting applications for linear LED drivers are to be found in commercial LED lighting such as signage, channel letters, LED strips and modules, but even automotive interior lights, emergency lights or multi-channel/color applications for architectural lighting. Further applications are lighting for shops and retail equipment like fridges, freezers, or vending machines. Common to all these use cases is very limited board space availability. Linear current control meets this requirement, as only few very small components are necessary.
Infineon’s BCR linear driver ICs are the best choice for driving LED strings supplied by a DC voltage source. The BCR regulators are suitable for driving currents from 10mA to 250mA. That is why they are the best solution for low- and mid-power LEDs. For high-power LEDs instead, the linear controller ICs in combination with an external power stage allow for the greatest design flexibility.
In contrast to limiting the LED driving current with a simple resistor, Infineon’s BCR linear regulators have the advantage that the driving current is always under control, no matter at which temperature. Thanks to its negative thermal coefficient, the LED load will be protected from overheating, which contributes to longevity and reliability of the system and allows for the usage in outdoor as well as automotive applications.
Furthermore, BCR linear LED drivers are suitable for PWM dimming at high dimming frequencies, allowing flicker-free light to create the right atmosphere. PWM dimming is supported either by a microcontroller interface or by means of an external digital transistor.
Another important topic to be considered is the superior homogenous light output with linear control, which allows despite voltage drop at the LEDs and IC for unified brightness at the beginning as well as the end of the LED strip. Devices such as the BCR431U feature an extra-low voltage drop, which is ideal in cases where supply voltage and forward voltage are very close together, and voltage headroom is required. This enables more design flexibility e.g., more LEDs on one strip and longer LED strips overall. Additionally, longer LED strips require fewer feeding points and thus lead to savings in the overall system.