TI Introduces CCFL Controller for LCD TVs and Notebooks

Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) has introduced an integrated, full-bridge phase-shift power controller for CCFL backlight power supplies in LCD TV monitors and notebook computers. The flexible controller supports input voltages from 8 V to 30 V and can drive four external NMOS switches without external circuitry.

TI's TPS68000 controller's wide-input voltage range is suitable for designing inverter modules powered directly from regulated 12-V or 24-V rails, or any other source with output voltages in this range. For example, the device simplifies design of CCFL converters with higher input voltages, such as 120 V or 400 V available at the output of a power factor correction unit.

The TPS68000 can support CCFL converters driving multi-lamp applications, either by using higher power-rated switches and transformers, or using several synchronized TPS68000 devices. The device can also power any CCFL-based display backlight.

These devices feature; programmable phase delays of operating frequency for master-slave operation, lamp voltage and lamp current regulation, analog and burst dimming, configurable distributed burst dimming in multiple controller applications, programmable voltage regulation timeout for start-up and fault conditions, open-lamp and short-circuit protection, internal over-temperature protection, and undervoltage lockout.

The TPS68000 is available in volume production. The device comes in a 30-pin TSSOP package, and is priced at $2.50 each in quantities of 1,000 units.