If you need to drive a number of white LEDs to provide display backlighting or for a white-light torch what’s the best way to configure them? If they are wired in series then the forward conduction voltage of the chain will be greater than the output from a typical battery. Connect them in parallel and current becomes a problem. To keep the light output constant it is also necessary to maintain a constant current through the LEDs despite a falling battery voltage. The LT1932 from Linear Technology (www.linear-tech.com/pdf/1932f.pdf) is an efficient solution to the problem. This chip operates at a low supply voltage and contains switched mode regulator circuit supplying output current defined by an external resistor at the RESET input. The4.7 μH inductor must be a type suitable for use in switched mode circuits; it stores energy in the ferrite core magnetic field during switching.
Up to eight LEDs can be connected in series but if more is required it is possible to use two parallel networks of five series connected LEDs. In this configuration, it is necessary to include a resistor in each arm of around 100 Ω to prevent one of the arms from hogging all the current. A pulse width modulated square wave applied to the Shutdown(SHDN) input will dim the LEDs. Alternatively, an external variable supply connected via a 56 kΩ resistor to the RSETinput can also act as a dimmer.
The LT1932 is a fixed-frequency step-up DC/DC converter designed to operate as a constant-current source. Because it directly regulates output current, the LT1932 is ideal for driving light-emitting diodes (LEDs) whose light intensity is proportional to the current passing through them, not the voltage across their terminals.
Features
- Up to 80% Efficiency
- Inherently Matched LED Current
- Drives Five White LEDs from 2V
- Drives Six White LEDs from 2.7V
- Drives Eight White LEDs from 3V
- Adjustable Control of LED Current
- Disconnects LEDs In Shutdown
- 1.2MHz Fixed Frequency Switching
- Uses Tiny Ceramic Capacitors
- Uses Tiny 1mm-Tall Inductors
- Regulates Current Even When VIN > VOUT
- Operates with VIN as Low as 1V
- Low Profile (1mm) ThinSOT™ Package
