Fairchild Programmable LED Blinker Device Addresses Design Challenge of Driving Single-LED

Fairchild Semiconductor states that it is enabling designers of mobile handsets, ultra-portable devices, consumer products and industrial/embedded systems to implement a blinking LED solution that can easily be programmed to create an enhanced visual experience. Fairchild’s programmable LED blinker, the FAN5646, eliminates the need for a microprocessor to be in continuous operation mode. With proprietary TinyWire™ single-wire digital interface, the FAN5646 can be programmed with a unique LED blink rate and pattern.

When the FAN5646 is enabled it will continually play these LED blink patterns until commanded by the microprocessor to stop. Common approaches for solving this challenge include connecting the LED to an LDO regulator or a FET plus a lithium ion battery. Both of these implementations require a microprocessor to be programmed with a blinking pattern, draining battery life since the microprocessor needs to be continually operating to maintain this pattern.

Fairchild states that the FAN5646 lowers the overall solution cost while providing the features and benefits designers are requesting. Key features include: minimizes system power consumption; internal programmable LED blink pattern allows the microprocessor to remain in sleep mode while FAN5646 is operating; low power consumption during operation or in shutdown mode; TinyWire Single-Wire Digital Interface; provides designer flexibility to program different blink rates and patterns; up to two different pulse widths and blink rates can be programmed; very low drop-out voltage – 80mV drop-out enables the LED to be powered without the need for inductors or switching capacitors, minimizing component count; reduced component count results in lower inventory and procurement costs along with an easier PCB layout; small form factor; WL-CSP version occupies < 0.80mm2 of area; and a small standard package: 5-lead SC70.

The FAN5646 is priced (each, 1,000 pcs.) at US $0.50 with a delivery of 12 weeks ARO.