ON Semiconductor Launches Automotive LED Drivers and Controllers for Advanced Vehicle Lighting Applications

By Tiera Oliver

Associate Editor

Embedded Computing Design

February 04, 2020

News

New family of devices simplifies task of designing efficient and reliable lighting solutions with sophisticated functionality to enhance road safety.

ON Semiconductor has launched a new family of four devices that facilitate the high levels of performance and functionality that vehicle manufacturers and consumers now expect from automotive exterior and interior lighting. Aimed specifically at low power solid state lighting, the new family comprises two LED drivers (NCV7683 http://bit.ly/2UdaJLi and NCV7685  http://bit.ly/31g3kw0) and two current controllers (NCV7691 http://bit.ly/2RPw1gx and NCV7692 http://bit.ly/2u78G0w).
   
In the pursuit of improved road safety, automakers are moving away from the simple ‘on/off’ operation to sophisticated systems that incorporate movement and variable intensity within rear combination lamps (RCLs), turn signals, fog lamps, and other externally modulated LED clusters to give clearer and highly visible warnings to other road users.
   
The NCV7685 (http://bit.ly/31g3kw0) and NCV7683 (http://bit.ly/2UdaJLi) integrate twelve and eight linear programmable current sources enabling multiple strings of LEDs to be driven with up to 100 mA per channel. The devices provide different configurability options, including daisy-chaining, illumination level control, current regulation, sequencing functionality, and channel combination. The NCV7685 incorporates an 8-bit I2C interface with CRC8 error detection for individual output current adjustment via pulse width modulation (PWM), and for advanced diagnostics, including detection of an open LED string or under voltage condition, a dedicated diagnostic pin is also available. The NCV7685 may be powered with a DC-DC controller (http://bit.ly/31g5yvK) and/or LDO voltage regulator, (http://bit.ly/36Mpc3B) depending upon specific design requirements.
   
The NCV7691 (http://bit.ly/2RPw1gx) provides a regulated wide current range for driving LEDs in one or multiple strings, with only an external NPN bipolar transistor (http://bit.ly/2Oxk7pB) and a feedback resistor. The driver provides design flexibility to add additional single channels to multichannel systems, and supports a dimming function via its PWM input. The NCV7691 includes open string, short circuit, and thermal shutdown, ensuring safe and reliable operation of essential lighting. The derivative NCV7692 (http://bit.ly/2u78G0w) offers a faster response time and a reduced threshold for open load detection.

For more information, please visit: https://www.onsemi.com/

Tiera Oliver, Associate Editor for Embedded Computing Design, is responsible for web content edits, product news, and constructing stories. She also assists with newsletter updates as well as contributing and editing content for ECD podcasts and the ECD YouTube channel. Before working at ECD, Tiera graduated from Northern Arizona University where she received her B.S. in journalism and political science and worked as a news reporter for the university’s student led newspaper, The Lumberjack.

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