eeProductCenter Ultimate Products 4.3

(1)
ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS
LED driver features on-chip oscillator for programmable brightness control

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. has introduced a three-channel constant-current LED driver with an on-chip oscillator for programmable brightness control. The A6281 driver is typically used to drive a cluster of red/green/blue (RGB) LEDs for one pixel in a large display or a lighting fixture."

Readers Say:
"Price is still high for automotive applications."
"It would be nice if they have one to drive the laptop LCD - typically requires 6+ channels and 30+V."
"Convenient from the perspective of the designer, and a cost saver due to the level of integration. Interesting component."
"This is exactly what I was looking for an ongoing development project! Good timing."
"The size, low component count, and configurability of this LED driver makes it ideal for high density products where space is an issue. Its wide voltage range gives it a wide range of uses in lighting and display products."

USABILITY RANK: 1

(2)
AUSTRIAMICROSYSTEMS
Inductorless DC/DC boost converter delivers high efficiency

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"austriamicrosystems has introduced its first inductorless DC/DC boost converter in a new product family. The AS1301 is capable of output currents as high as 50 mA from a wide voltage input of 2.7 to 5.25 V."

Readers Say:
"I like it"
"Doesn't say what it can boost up to."
"Our applications aren't battery powered. The press release leads with the efficiency, which from the data sheet turns out to be a very special case. I'd think the low-noise, wide input range, and reduced magnetic interference would be more important. In the data sheet itself, it looks as if the 2:3 mode internal connections diagram differs from the text. It's a cute idea, using the adaptive switched capacitor structure."

USABILITY RANK: 2

(3)
MICREL
Buck regulator achieves light load efficiencies up to 94 percent

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"Micrel Inc. has launched the MIC2238, a 2.5-MHz dual 800 mA synchronous buck (step-down) regulator housed in a 3 x 3-mm MLF package. The device provides two out-of-phase outputs of up to 800 mA each and offers light load efficiencies of up to 94 percent at 5 mA and peak efficiencies of more than 96 percent."

Readers Say:
"Looks like it would be great in a battery powered device"

USABILITY RANK: 5

(4)
FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR
DrMOS FET plus driver saves 80 percent board space

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"Fairchild Semiconductor has introduced the FDMF6700, a fully optimized and integrated FET plus driver power stage solution in an ultra-compact 6 x 6-mm MLP package for synchronous buck converters. The FDMF6700 integrates a driver IC and two power MOSFETS, targeting space-constrained applications such as small-form-factor desktops, media center PCs, ultra-dense servers, blade servers, advanced gaming systems, graphic cards, networking and telecom equipment, and other DC-DC applications with limited board space."

Readers Say:
"The solution is excellent, but parts with lower input voltage 2.5-5V and switching frequency >1MHz would be even better"

USABILITY RANK: 7

(5)
SIPEX
LED drivers eliminate need for external components

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"Sipex Corp. has developed the SP7120 family of multi-channel, linear LED drivers to minimize board space and simplify designs required to drive LED display backlights by eliminating the need for external components."

Readers Say:
"Need more channels and programmable current."

USABILITY RANK: 6

(6)
SUPERTEX
High-voltage LED driver integrates current regulator switch

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"Supertex has introduced the HV9980, a three-channel, high-voltage LED driver aimed at LCD panel backlighting and DLP television (TV) applications. The HV9980 features three channels of peak current mode control that include a switch for regulating the LED current, enabling 95% efficiency in DLP television applications. Each channel features an integrated, 160 V, 25 ohm MOSFET and individual PWM and linear dimming inputs. "

Readers Say:
No comments.

USABILITY RANK: 10

(7)
VISHAY INTERTECHNOLOGY
1.2-V-rated TrenchFET MOSFETs simplify sub-1.8-V portable designs

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says:
"Vishay Intertechnology Inc. has launched power MOSFETs with on-resistance ratings at a 1.2-V gate-to-source voltage, a move that will help designers simplify power management circuitry while extending battery run times in portable electronic systems."

Readers Say:
"What is the D-S leakage current?"

USABILITY RANK: 3

(8)
SEMTECH
White LED step-up converter integrates Schottky diode

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says:
"Semtech Corp. has launched the SC4509, a step-up converter for white LED backlight applications with an integrated Schottky diode in a 2 x 2 x 0.8 mm package. The SC4509 can drive up to five white LEDs in series. The device's built-in Schottky diode saves board space and reduces costs while still providing efficiencies of more than 80 percent."

Readers Say:
No comments.

USABILITY RANK: 4

(9)
MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS
HB-LED driver features rapid current pulsing

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"Maxim Integrated Products says its MAX16821 high-power, synchronous high-brightness LED (HB-LED) driver with rapid current pulsing is the first to drive common-anode LEDs. This device is suitable for front-projection, rear-projection TV (RPTV), and pocket projector applications that require very fast LED dimming capabilities."

Readers Say:
No comments.

USABILITY RANK: 9

(10)
LINEAR TECHNOLOGY
LED driver powers nine LEDs for cell phone displays

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"Linear Technology Corp. has released the high-efficiency and low noise LTC3219 LED driver for cell phone displays. The inductorless (charge pump) IC provides nine individually configurable current sources for main, sub and RGB displays."

Readers Say:
"Great for driving up to 9 separate LEDs. Costly though."

USABILITY RANK: 8

In case you were wondering, here's how Ultimate Products works: Our editors select up to 10 of the most significant products posted at www.eeProductCenter.com during the calendar quarter. Then, using an electronic balloting process, we submit the products with the accompanying editorial reviews to selected, qualified readers. Those readers score the products by technical significance and
USABILITY on a scale of 1 through 5, with 5 being the highest score. The product ranked No. 1 in each category was judged as most technically significant for that category. Relative
USABILITY rankings and selected reader comments are also reported. More than 1,000 of you helped to choose these products. As always, we are grateful for your enthusiastic participation.

Patrick Mannion
Editor-in-Chief, Techonline Network and eeProductcenter.com
pmannion@cmp.com