Highly Integrated, Flexible Light-Management IC Saves Space and Provides Over 90% Efficiency
Note to Editor:
- The MAX8830 is an LED light-management IC for cell phones.
- The MAX8830 reduces total solution size for use in small, portable applications.
- To achieve this reduction in solution size, the MAX8830 integrates a DC-DC step-up converter, current regulators for display backlighting and camera flash, and all power switches into a tiny, 2.5mm x 2.5mm UCSP.
- The MAX8830's high efficiency, flexible operation, and tiny packaging make it ideal for cellular handsets, wireless PDAs, and smartphones.
|
SUNNYVALE, CA—October 8, 2007—Maxim Integrated Products (Pink Sheets: MXIM) introduces the MAX8830 LED light-management IC in a tiny, 2.5mm x 2.5mm UCSP™. This device reduces total solution size by integrating a DC-DC step-up converter, four current regulators for display backlighting, a camera-flash current regulator, and all power switches, thereby reducing external component count and design time. Its high efficiency (> 90%), flexible operation, and tiny packaging make the MAX8830 ideal for cellular handsets, wireless PDAs, and smartphones.
Eliminating the need for separate control ICs, the MAX8830 includes four 10mA current regulators that can be used for driving LEDs in display-backlighting or indicator-signal applications. LED brightness is individually adjustable in 32 steps through the I²C interface. Extremely low drop-out (30mV, typ) improves system efficiency by allowing the step-up DC-DC voltage to be set as low as possible for the chosen LEDs.
The MAX8830 also integrates a low drop-out (75mV, typ) 200mA flash current regulator, which allows the user to individually program 16 levels of current for movie and flash modes through the I²C interface. A programmable flash safety timer provides protection against finger burn or LED damage caused by leaving the flash on for too long. The camera module can directly control flash mode using a simple logic pin, and movie mode can be enabled using either logic control or the I²C interface, thus providing maximum system design flexibility.
To improve efficiency and further reduce component count, the 280mA step-up converter integrates both a switching MOSFET and a synchronous rectifier. The MAX8830's 1MHz switching frequency allows the use of inductors as small as 2µH. To increase flexibility, the MAX8830 features an I²C-compatible interface, which allows the output voltage to be programmed from 3.8V to 5.2V in 100mV increments. This makes the MAX8830 not only ideal for light-management functions, but also for powering other circuits such as audio amplifiers.
The MAX8830 automatically detects open and short LEDs, with their status readable through the I²C interface, thereby making it easy to automate factory testing. Other features include overcurrent protection for the step-up DC-DC converter, overtemperature protection, and operation over the -40°C to +85°C extended temperature range. The MAX8830 is available in a lead-free, 16-bump, 2.5mm x 2.5mm x 0.7mm UCSP. Prices start at $2.50 (2500-up, FOB USA).
|
