Use of WLED driver brightens notebook LCD displays

摘要

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) introduced an innovative, six-channel, 40-V white light emitting diode (LED) driver with a built-in, high-efficiency boost regulator and 1.5-A FET. The TPS61181 is said to be the smallest LED driver to manage up to 60 white LEDs at once while providing high power efficiency and accurate current regulation for medium-sized displays used in notebooks, portable GPS, industrial and medical applications. Notebook and other LCD displays have traditionally relied on CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamps) technology to backlight the display. Many portable electronics makers have switched from CCFL to white LEDs for backlighting, allowing for greater power savings and thinner panels. This conversion has already taken place in most smaller LCD applications, such as mobile phones and portable media players. The TPS61181 gives engineers designing medium-sized portable applications an easy path to LED design.