National Semi WEBENCH LED Architect Simplifies & Speeds Lighting Design

National Semiconductor Corp. announced the addition of WEBENCH LED Architect to its portfolio of online WEBENCH® Designer tools. The first of its kind, WEBENCH LED Architect enables both novice and expert designers to perform real-time comparisons and optimize complex lighting systems for performance, size and cost in minutes.

To start a design, the designer enters desired light output (lumens) and adjusts the design with the unique WEBENCH Optimizer Dial, evaluating size, conversion efficiency and cost trade-offs. The designer can order components for prototyping, share the complete system with others, or easily print a complete project report including schematics, bill of materials (BOM) and performance characteristics.

"We are enabling creative designers to compare a hundred different topologies for a lighting system in a few minutes," said Phil Gibson, Vice President of Technical Sales Tools at National Semiconductor. "WEBENCH LED Architect frees their imagination, so they can deliver brilliant lighting designs at the lowest possible cost."

WEBENCH LED Architect is a quick visual tool for complete lighting system design up to 100,000 lumens in output. LED performance, electronic drive current and heat compensation are balanced in seconds. The tool analyzes 350 of the latest LEDs from 12 leading manufacturers, 30 heat sinks, 35 LED drivers, and a library of 21,000 electronic passive components. Users can focus on system level results and leave the burden of complex electrical and thermal mathematics to the tool. Electrical simulation is included as an option for additional testing, validation or component selection.