New Industry Products

ROHM Announces New AutomotiveGrade Backlight LED Driver Optimized for LCD Panels

September 25, 2019 by ROHM

ROHM announced the availability of the latest LED driver IC, the BD81A76EFV-M, optimized for LCD backlight in instrument cluster, center information displays and car navigation.

ROHM announced the availability of the latest LED driver IC, the BD81A76EFV-M, optimized for LCD backlight in the instrument cluster, center information displays and car navigation. Unlike conventional drivers with 4 channels that support LCDs up to 8”, this IC provides 6 channels of output (with 120mA per channel) that can support LCD panels of up to 10-12” class. At the same time, original buck-boost control ensures compatibility with both small and large LCDs using a single driver. This makes it possible to develop a common design of an LCD control board suitable for conventional panels along with the latest large-size displays.

In recent years, to improve both visibility and design in the automotive field, LCDs are being used in an increasing number of systems including instrument clusters, head-up displays, and car navigation. In addition, larger screen sizes are being demanded. They require a greater number of high brightness LEDs for backlight as well as LED drivers featuring multi-channel operation and advanced dimming features that can prevent flicker effects.

In response to this increasing market need, ROHM has leveraged its industry-leading analog design technology and incorporated proprietary technologies into its LED drivers to achieve flicker-free operation and to contribute to a common control board design. The BD81A76EFV-M also allows designers to use larger LCD panels in-vehicle applications.

“ROHMs new LED driver allows flexibility of design in modern display architectures and ensures backward compatibility providing cost-effectiveness”, Stefan Drouzas, Product Marketing Manager Automotive Display Products, ROHM Semiconductor GmbH.

 

Key Features

1. Original buck-boost control supports a common control board design.

The BD81A76EFV-M incorporates proprietary buck-boost control to provide greater application flexibility in LCD applications. In contrast to conventional 6channels backlight LED drivers utilizing only boost control. Although conventional LED drivers are only capable of driving 36 to 60 LEDs (6-10 LEDs/channel), ROHM’s new driver IC expands the range from 6 to 60 LEDs (1-10 LEDs/channel). This ensures the support of not only larger displays but also small and medium-sized panels as well using a single driver, contributing to a common design of control board.

2. Class-leading 6ch output enables compatibility with the latest 12” displays

Incorporating a constant current driver with low heat generation enables a best-in-class 6 channels LED current output of 120mA per channel. Unlike conventional 4 channels products that support LCDs up to 8”, ROHM’s new driver can accommodate larger panels in the 10-12” class. In addition, original PWM dimming technology (patent no. 2018-169705) provides a dimming ratio of 10,000:1, improving visibility and greater design flexibility for center information displays and instrument clusters.

 3. Low standby current minimizes power consumption

Leveraging analog design expertise and process technologies allowed ROHM to reduce standby current consumption to just 10µA. This reduces power consumption to less than 1/3 compared with functionally equivalent products featuring a standby current of 40µA (typ.).

4. Spread spectrum function ensures high reliability, low noise operation

In addition to obtaining qualification under the international AEC-Q100 standard for automotive reliability, the BD81A76EFV-M integrates a spread spectrum function as a countermeasure against EMI that allows it to clear CISPR25 noise requirements for vehicle applications. The result is stable operation in automotive systems sensitive to noise.

 

Application Examples

  • Car navigation
  • Center information displays (CID)
  • Cluster panels
  • Head-up displays (HUD)
  • Electronic mirrors
  • Small/medium LCDs
  • Other automotive displays (up to 12”) requiring LED backlight

 

About ROHM Semiconductor

ROHM was established in Kyoto in 1958 as initially a manufacturer of small electronic components. In 1967 production was expanded to include transistors and diodes, and in 1969 ICs and other semiconductor products were added to the lineup. Two years later (in 1971), going against conventional Japanese business culture, the company entered the US market by establishing a sales office and IC design center in Silicon Valley. Through the hard work and passionate dedication of its young workforce, business flourished, causing the industry to take notice. ROHM's expansion overseas soon became a template for other companies and eventually was accepted as common business practice.