SENSORS: Allegro MicroSystems Inc. introduced a high power LED driver with output disconnect for backlighting medium LCD displays. This new driver is a robust solution targeting numerous applications within the automotive market. Typical applications include in-dash navigation systems, automotive infotainment, and back-up camera displays. A commercial version is also available for industrial and consumer applications.
Allegro’s A8501 integrates a boost converter and four 100mA current sinks. LED channels can be tied together for up to 40mA sink capability. It can work from a single power supply of 8 to 21 V and withstand up to 40V. The boost converter is a constant frequency, current-mode converter.
Operating frequency can be set up to 2MHz in order to avoid interference with the AM radio band in automotive applications. The integrated boost DMOS switch is rated for 40V at 3.6A. PWM dimming allows LED currents to be controlled at up to a 1000:1 ratio. Additional 4:1 dimming can be achieved by using the DIM pin. As part of an extensive list of protection features, the A8501 provides protection against output connector shorts through an integrated output disconnect switch. It also includes adjustable overvoltage protection (OVP) and protects against open or shorted LEDs and an open OVP resistor or boost diode.
The device is supplied in a surface mount, 28-pin TSSOP package (suffix LP), with exposed thermal pad for enhanced thermal dissipation. It is available with an ambient operating temperature of either 125C or 85C maximum, for automotive or industrial/consumer applications. The device is lead free, with a lead frame plating choice of 100 percent matte-tin (suffix T) or tin-bismuth (suffix B). It is priced at $2.36 in quantities of 1,000 and has a 16 week typical lead-time to market.
Gigabit and PoE are two networking technologies moving ahead in tandem as industrial users power remote Ethernet devices such as IP security cameras at 1,000 Mbps over existing CAT5 cable.
New disc magnet motors fit into the design trend of stepping up to closed loop performance while maintaining the cost advantage of stepper motor technology.
At the Design News webinar on June 27, learn all about aluminum extrusion: designing the right shape so it costs the least, is simplest to manufacture, and best fits the application's structural requirements.
A new battery design, which replaces lithium with abundant and low-cost elemental sulfur, is still in its nascent stages but shows real promise for giving batteries more energy potential.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 5
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
For industrial control applications, or even a simple assembly line, that machine can go almost 24/7 without a break. But what happens when the task is a little more complex? That’s where the “smart” machine would come in. The smart machine is one that has some simple (or complex in some cases) processing capability to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Such machines are suited for a host of applications, including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, computers and electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods, and so on. This radio show will show what’s possible with smart machines, and what tradeoffs need to be made to implement such a solution.
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
0 
