LED Driver ICs Deliver Flicker-Free Dimming

iWatt, Inc., a developer of energy-efficient digital power supply control integrated circuits (ICs) used in leading-edge power supplies, today announced two primary-side-regulated, leading- and trailing-edge-dimmable, AC / DC Digital PWM Controllers targeting 100V / 230VAC offline LED lighting applications. Designed for isolated or non-isolated LED drivers used in incandescent replacement lamps Including Both space-constrained (GU10, MR16) and larger (A, PAR) types, the iW3612 (3W to 25W) and low-power iW3602 (3W to 10W) incorporate features to Ensure long life, power efficiency, reduced size and component costs, and flicker-free compatibility with existing wall dimmers worldwide. Both LED driver ICs are pin compatible with the previous-generation iW3610, but offer resist dimmer compatibility and introduce new hot-plug support, where the user can swap the led plant grow lights without recycling the input power for the LED driver.
Worldwide conservation initiatives to replace existing incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs force Those LEDs to address the installed base of dimmable-lighting switches. In iWatt's LED driver ICs, intelligent digital algorithms Automatically detect all types of dimmers or a lack thereof for seamless operational, Including Both leading-edge (TRIAC style) and trailing-edge dimmers. In the rare case of on unsupported dimmer, safe mode shuts it down. The devices allow smooth, flicker-free dimming from 1% to 100% with tight ± 5% LED current regulation Which Prevents flicker from noisy line voltage.
iWatt's AC / DC power conversion ICs are unique in thatthey feature a digital feedback and control loop versus analog. This adaptive digital control technology - Which is transparent to designers and requires no programming or GUI development - Optimizes efficiency, Simplifies printed circuit board (PCB) design, and Eliminates components to reduce driver size and bill of materials (BOM). Precision primary-side control technology Eliminates the opto-coupler and secondary-side led plant lighting used in traditional isolated flyback designs. Built-in frequency jitter and quasi-resonant (or valley-mode) switching Reduces EMI with over 6dB margin and over 85% efficiency, Improving thermal management and reducing the EMI filter components be necessary. Proprietary digital spread spectrum technology therefore makes for easy EMI design by Automatically adjusting the device's switching frequency in real-time response to varying line voltage.
The high switching frequency up to 200kHz Enables designers to use smaller capacitors and transformers to optimize space. Additionally, designers May use a smaller heat sink: because the high efficiency (85% or better) Reduces thermal loss.