New Industry Products

Allegro Announces New 3A, Automotive Constant-Current LED Driver

January 20, 2013 by Jeff Shepard

Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. has added a new AEC-Q100 qualified device to their existing automotive LED driver portfolio. The A6213 is a single IC, dc-dc, buck switching regulator that provides a constant-current output of up to 3 A to drive high-power LEDs. It integrates a high-side, N-channel, MOSFET switch and includes many new significant advantages in fault protection. This new device features a true automotive design and was developed to target many applications within this market such as map lights, DRL daytime running lights, rear fog lamps, fog lights, cargo and underhood lamps as well as puddle and emergency lights.

A true average LED drive current is output using a cycle-by-cycle, controlled on-time method. The LED drive current is user-configurable with an external current sense resistor. The output voltage automatically adjusts to optimize constant-current supply to a wide variety of LED array configurations including multiple LEDs in series. Series LEDs can be configured in a single string or parallel strings when using a balancing resistor.

LED dimming is accomplished via a direct logic input pulse width modulation (PWM) signal such as an automotive courtesy signal. PWM dimming and enable signals can range from a logic level 1.8 volts to the input voltage level. The A6213 provides load supply and gate drive undervoltage lockout (UVLO) protection, thermal shutdown protection, and load overvoltage protection (OVP).

The device is provided in a compact 8-pin narrow SOIC package (suffix LJ) with exposed pad for enhanced thermal dissipation. It is lead (Pb) free, with 100% matte tin leadframe plating. The A6213KLJTR-T is priced at $0.92 in quantities of 1,000.