NXP Driver ICs Targeted at Automotive LED Applications

NXP Semiconductors N.V. has launched its fully integrated, highly flexible driver IC solutions designed for vehicle LED headlights and tail lights, based on automotive-qualified technology. The ASL1010NTK and ASL1010PHN are the industry’s first automotive LED driver ICs to integrate critical functionality such as direct LED temperature feedback, LED fault detection, internal PWM control for dimming, and short circuit protection – all on an automotive-qualified analog mixed-signal platform in an 8-/16-pin package.

Until now, automotive LEDs have used complex, expensive driver ICs designed for generic Solid State Lighting (SSL) applications that lack many of the critical functions needed for automotive applications. As automotive SSL becomes more prevalent in the car, Lighting Control Unit makers and LED vendors are in need of more robust, efficient solutions that enable OEMs to realize the full benefits of energy-efficient LEDs, which can reduce fuel and battery consumption by approximately 50 percent in some applications compared to incandescent lights (UMTRI, 2008). By integrating the core functions critical to automotive LED lights, the ASL1010NTK/ASL1010PHN driver ICs offer a compact all-in-one solution that requires few additional components, enabling more cost-effective, elegant and reliable LED module designs. At the same time, the NXP system solution offers flexibility to cover different car platforms, configurations, output voltages, and numbers of LEDs.

NXP provides a highly reliable, flexible system solution that can be used across different car platforms. The NXP LED driver IC features an auto buck/boost topology, allowing it to safely drive up to 20 LEDs from the standard car battery voltage; the system allows maximum flexibility on output voltage from 6V to 60V and can be used with any LEDs available on the market today.

The core functionality for driving automotive LEDs has been integrated into the IC, making the reference design compact yet flexible enough to be used across different configurations and numbers of LEDs, without requiring a redesign of the PCB. The integrated design eliminates redundant functionality across platforms, as well as the need for an external microcontroller. Further, the ASL1010NTK/ASL1010PHN driver ICs are based on the ABCD9 technology node – NXP’s automotive technology platform driving analog mixed-signal integration. Thus, the architecture of the ASL1010NTK is designed to reduce system costs as well as development time for Lighting Control Unit and LED designers, and help speed time to market.

NXP Semiconductors

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