Dongbu HiTek Announces Joint Development Of LED Driver IC For BLU Applications In Laptop Computers
Dongbu HiTek announced the joint development of an LED driver chip for Back Light Unit (BLU) applications in laptop computers. Developed in collaboration with ADDtek, a Taiwanese fabless company specializing in analog and mixed-signal chip solutions, the new LED driver is being manufactured with Dongbu HiTek’s BCDMOS (Bipolar CMOS DMOS) process. The ramp to volume production at the 0.35&miro; node is scheduled to begin as early as the fourth quarter of this year.
The company states that the announcement further highlights its commitment to BCDMOS leadership as it closely follows the launch of what it describes as the world’s first 0.18µ-level BCDMOS process in June. In addition to supporting a wide range of high-voltages from 12 to 60V, Dongbu HiTek’s BCDMOS technology is said to enable a diversity of highly compact mixed-signal chip solutions. The attractiveness of BCDMOS comes from integrating analog circuits (using Bipolar), logic circuits (using CMOS) and high-voltage circuits (using DMOS) all on the same chip.
"We are committed to becoming the preferred source for BCDMOS chip solutions," asserted Jae Song, EVP of Marketing for Dongbu HiTek. "You can expect us to support the broadest range of voltages at both the 0.18- and 0.35µ process nodes." He disclosed that future support could extend the operating range of 0.35µ-level chips up to 85V. "We will ultimately focus our BCDMOS expertise on developing System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions that meet the demanding power management requirements in the high-growth mobile and display markets."
Song expects Dongbu HiTek to steadily increase LED chip driver production volume for ADDtek next year to meet customer demand, adding, "We also look forward to expanding upon our collaboration with ADDtek in other areas." He noted that his company will begin manufacturing LED light sources that are used not only in BLU applications for laptops, desktops, mobile handsets and flat panel TVs, but in other growth markets as well."
