Micrel Inc. Rolls out New Automotive Qualified Step-Down High Brightness LED Driver IC

In an effort to provide a solution that reduces the complexity as well as cost of high current light-emitting diode (LED) driver solutions in automotive lighting applications, Micrel (News - Alert) Inc. launched a new step-down High Brightness LED (HBLED) driver IC, MAQ3203.

As a provider of analog, high bandwidth communications and Ethernet IC solutions, Micrel Inc. offers advanced mixed-signal, analog and power semiconductors; high performance communication, clock management, Ethernet switch and physical layer transceiver ICs to manufacturers of enterprise, consumer, industrial, mobile, telecommunications, automotive, and computer products.

Currently available in volume quantities, with 1Ku pricing starting at $1.50, the new MAQ3203 is a hysteretic, step-down, constant-current, High-Brightness LED (HB LED) driver IC. It can drive multiple HBLEDs in series at more than 90 percent efficiency with ±5 percent current accuracy from input voltages of 4.5V to 42V.

According to Micrel, the new MAQ3203 step-down HBLED driver IC is an ideal solution to drive the HBLEDs with constant current because it features hysteretic control architecture and high-side current sense scheme. The hysteretic control gives good supply rejection and fast response during load transients.

As an ideal solution for interior/exterior lighting, architectural and ambient lighting, LED bulbs, and other general illumination applications, the MAQ3203 is AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive applications and operates over a junction temperature from −40°C to +125°C.

In a press release, Doyle Slack, senior marketing director for Analog, said, "LED-based lighting is gaining popularity in automotive applications with both LED makers and LED light engine designers in need of more robust, efficient solutions that enable OEMs to realize the full benefits of energy-efficient LEDs."

Slack added, "By integrating the core functions critical to automotive LED lighting, the MAQ3203 driver IC offers a compact all-in-one solution that requires few additional components, enabling more cost-effective, elegant and reliable LED module designs."

Featuring a dedicated PWM dimming pin, the new MAQ3203 step-down HBLED driver IC has an operating frequency that is adjustable up to 1.5MHz. This facilitates for flexibility in terms of design and also offers a frequency dithering feature to mitigate EMI.

The PWM dimming pin is an enable pin for very low power shutdown, over temperature protection and an under voltage lockout.

Available in an 8-pin SOIC package, the new MAQ3203 step-down HBLED driver IC has an external power switch and requires no external compensation.

Recently, Micrel appointed Brian Hedayati, a seasoned semiconductor executive, as the company’s new vice president of analog marketing.