Micrel Takes Efficiency To New Heights With High Current Density And High Accuracy Linear WLED Drivers

The MIC4801 /MIC4802 LED drivers are simple to use and do not require an inductor, eliminating noise, minimizing component count and simplifying numerous designs, noted Doyle Slack, senior marketing director for Analog. With its Ultra Fast PWM™ Control interface, both the MIC4801and the MIC4802 can achieve brightness control down to 1 percent duty cycle.

The MIC4801 and the MIC4802 are high efficiency White LED (WLED) drivers designed to drive a single LED up to 600mA and 800mA respectively. The MIC4801 and the MIC4802 provide high efficiency as this architecture has no switching losses present in traditional charge pumps or inductive boost circuits. Both devices feature low dropout voltages which allow the LEDs to be driven directly from low voltage sources and thus eliminates switching noise/losses which accompany the use of boost circuitry.

The high accuracy (±1 percent typical) current regulated WLED ensures uniform display illumination under all conditions. The brightness is controlled through an Ultra Fast PWM™ Control interface operating down to less than 1 percent duty cycle. The MIC4801 and the MIC4802 are available in an 8-pin SOIC package and 8-Pin ePad SOIC package respectively with a junction temperature range of -40°C to +125°C.