Catalyst Semi Intros CAT4137/CAT4237 Boost Converters
Catalyst Semiconductor Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA), a developer and marketer of programmable products used in telecommunications, automotive and consumer markets, expanded its family of solid-state illumination products with the CAT4137 and CAT4237. Optimized for mobile LED lighting and backlight applications, the CAT4x37 family operates down below 2.5 V, and drives up to eight white LEDs in series from a 3 V source. Power efficiency as high as 87 percent and a "zero" shutdown current feature extend battery life in both operation and sleep modes.
An over-voltage circuit protects against open LED faults while reducing pin count and eliminating the need for large, costly external zener diodes. For applications requiring greater luminous intensity, the CAT4237 is designed to drive up to 40 mA. This allows system designers to use higher-power LEDs or a larger number of standard LEDs. Backlight integrity is maintained with current regulation typically better than 0.1 percent across supply and 1.0 percent across temperature.
The CAT4237 and CAT4137 are available in a five-pin ThinSOT package. Pricing in 1,000-piece quantities is $0.85 and $0.80, respectively. The CAT4237 and CAT4137 are available in RoHS-compliant, environment friendly, "green" packages that are halogen and lead-free. Samples, evaluation kits, and production quantities are now available.
