New Industry Products

Flexible 12-Channel Automotive LED Driver Simplifies State-of-the-Art Lighting

October 07, 2019 by Paul Shepard

The STMicroelectronics ALED1262ZT 12-channel LED driver targets advanced automotive rear combination lamps and interior lighting, bringing features to support complex and innovative visual effects.

Independent 7-bit pwm dimming on all channels allows flexible control of tail, stop, and indicator lights, with dynamic effects. Each channel delivers constant output current at 19V for controlling multi-LED series strings. Adjustment from 6mA to 60mA ensures a wide dimming range with high maximum brightness.

The LED lighting driver responds to I2C commands from a host microcontroller and provides two pre-programmed configurations that allow standalone operation for extra flexibility.

Recommended for you: Dana and Valeo Collaborate to Supply Complete 48-Volt EV Systems

With diagnostic features including open-LED detection and over-temperature warning with thermal shutdown, the ALED1262ZT ensures long-lasting robustness and stability. The input-voltage range from 5.5V to 38V allows use in direct battery-connected systems.

In addition, the ALED1262ZT is designed for low-noise operation, with slow turn-on/off time per channel and spread-spectrum clock operation to simplify integration with other in-vehicle electronics.

Summary of features and specifications

  • Designed for automotive applications
  • 12 constant current output channels
  • 19V current generator rated voltage
  • Output current: from 6mA to 60mA
  • Current programmable by a single external resistor
  • 7-bit pwm local brightness control
  • Slow turn-on/off time, gradual output delay and dithered clock for EMI reduction
  • Error detection for open LEDs
  • Supply voltage: from 5.5V to 38V
  • Thermal shutdown and overtemperature alert
  • Standalone and bus-driven mode
  • Custom configuration by OTP with Redundancy and ECC
  • 400kHz fast I²C interface with selectable extended Hamming encoding
  • Wired-OR error flag connection

The ALED1262ZT is in production now, in a 6.4mm x 7.8mm thermally efficient HTSSOP24 exposed-pad package, from $1.00 for orders of 1000 pieces.

ST has also released an evaluation board, STEVAL-LLL002V1 to help designers explore the ALED1262ZT's features and jump-start new lighting designs.