• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

New High-Power LED Driver From Catalyst Semiconductor Optimized for Rapidly Growing, Mid-Size LCD Panel Market

Posted on: Wednesday, 14 November 2007, 09:00 CST

Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ:CATS) a supplier of analog, mixed-signal and non-volatile memory semiconductors has expanded its line of high-power LED drivers with a new device optimized for the rapidly growing mid-size LCD panel market. The new CAT4139 boost converter provides a switch current up to 750mA and drives LED strings up to 22V, making it an ideal choice for digital photo frames and other backlighting applications where high LED counts (up to 40 LEDs) are emerging.

Many high-voltage boost converters typically use a simple variable-frequency switching scheme. This approach results in a wide range of unwanted harmonics, which are not easy to filter or eliminate. The CAT4139 uses a fixed frequency (1MHz) switching architecture making it ideal for low noise applications. A high voltage CMOS output stage in the device allows 5 LED strings (up to 22V) to be accurately biased and regulated from a low voltage input supply while still delivering efficiency levels of up to 87%. The CAT4139 follows Catalyst's CAT4240 high-power boost converter introduced earlier this year, which drives 10 LED strings up to 38V each.

To eliminate excessive "in-rush" currents which can occur during initial power-up, the CAT4139 offers an integrated soft-start control. In the event of an open-LED fault condition, an internal over-voltage protection circuit will place the device into a low-power operating mode restricting the output voltage to safe levels without the need for external circuitry. Both of these features are fully integrated, eliminating the need for external components and the associated cost and board space overhead.

Designers have a choice of controlling LED dimming in the CAT4139 using a DC voltage, logic signal, or pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.

Product Features

Switch current limit 750mA

Drives high voltage LED strings up to 22V

1MHz fixed-frequency, low-noise operation

Fully protected

Packaging: 5-lead TSOT23 (1mm max height)

Price and Availability

The CAT4139 LED driver is priced at $0.64 each in 10,000 piece quantities. Samples are available now. Projected lead-time for production quantities is currently 6 to 8 weeks ARO.

About Catalyst Semiconductor

Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Catalyst Semiconductor designs and markets analog, mixed-signal and non-volatile memory products, including Digitally Programmable Potentiometers (DPP™), white and color LED drivers, DC/DC converters, LDO regulators, voltage supervisors, bus expanders, serial and parallel EEPROMs, Flash and NVRAM. Many of Catalyst's products incorporate the Company's Quantum Charge Programmable™ technology, to deliver Adaptive Analog™ products, which offer a new level of customer flexibility, lower power and smaller die size. Catalyst products are used in telecommunications, computer, automotive, industrial and consumer markets. Typical applications include LCD displays, automotive lighting, optical networks, printers, modems, wireless LANs, network cards, DIMM modules, cellular telephones, navigation systems, set-top boxes and Internet routers. www.catsemi.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to statements relating to lead times and product availability for Catalyst Semiconductor's LED drivers. These statements are based on current information and market conditions and, as such, are subject to uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ from those described in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may affect product availability and lead times include manufacturing process interruptions at Catalyst's or our vendors' production facilities, fluctuations in customer demand and changes in market supply. Additional information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained under the heading "Certain Factors That May Affect the Company's Future Results of Operations" listed from time-to-time in reports Catalyst files with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, but not limited to, Catalyst's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports filed on Form 10-Q. Catalyst disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement.

Editor Notes:

1) Trademark notices: DPP, Quantum Charge Programmable™ and Adaptive Analog™ are trademarks of Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category