Micrel Launches New Family Of Electroluminescent Lamp Drivers For Backlighting Applications
Micrel Inc. has launched the MIC4830 and MIC4832, a new series of 180Vpp and 220Vpp low noise electroluminescent lamp (EL) drivers designed to drive panels of up to 4 square inches or greater. Applications include mobile phones, PDAs, pagers, calculators, multimedia players, and remote controls.
"The MIC4830 and MIC4832 raise the efficiency standard for EL drivers," noted Ralf Muenster, Micrel’s Marketing Director for Power Products. "By improving efficiency, designers can achieve longer battery life in today’s most demanding and feature-rich consumer applications, while at the same time eliminating the annoying buzz frequently associated with EL panels."
High efficiency for the MIC4830 and MIC4832 is achieved, in part, by consuming a typical supply current of just 45µA. Utilizing Micrel’s advanced Bipolar, CMOS, DMOS (BCD) technology, the ICs integrate a high voltage boost converter and a new H-bridge driver for driving a large EL lamp. In contrast to previous designs that often produced an annoying audible buzz, the new H-Bridge design eliminates audible noise in both products by creating a smoother ac waveform across the EL panel. Operating from an input voltage range of 1.8 to 5.5V, the MIC4830 and MIC4832 offer greater flexibility via externally adjustable lamp and boost converter frequencies.
The MIC4830/32 are available in RoHS compliant MLF(R) 3mm x 3mm and MSOP-8 Pb-free package options. All options feature a -40 to +85°C junction temperature range.
The ICs are available in volume with pricing starting at $0.85 for 1K quantities.
