IR Announces the IRPLDIM2 Digital Addressable Dimming Ballast Reference Design
International Rectifier Inc. (IR, El Segundo, CA) announced the new IRPLDIM2 digital addressable dimming ballast reference design, which incorporates all dimming ballast control and digital interface functions on one board, reducing the component count by 60 percent. The solution also provides dimming control with up to 256 light-level settings. The reference design enables the implementation of a digital addressable ballast that meets all the specifications outlined in the Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI), an addendum to the electronic ballast standard IEC929.
The IRPLDIM2 reference design includes all documentation, software and hardware to develop a digital addressable dimming ballast that supports all DALI commands. The IRPLDIM2E reference design drives a standard 220V, 36W T8 fluorescent lamp for the European and Asian markets, while the IRPLDIM2U reference design drives a standard 110V, 32W T8 lamp for the North American market. The reference design can be easily customized for other fluorescent lamps using IR's free ballast-design software.
Tom Ribarich, director of engineering for lighting ICs at IR, commented, "This new reference design is an easy-to-implement digital addressable dimming ballast that will help reduce wasteful energy consumption in 'smart' buildings. The design is compatible with the European DALI protocol and can be modified to accommodate custom interfaces as well."
The IRPLDIM2 digital addressable linear dimming ballast reference design will be available in the summer of 2001 for $150 each.
