Kinetic Technologies Launches High Efficiency Dual-Channel LED Driver KTD3122 for Smartphones and Other Portable Devices

Kinetic Technologies, a high-performance analog, and mixed-signal semiconductor company focused on developing power management solutions for computing, consumer, industrial, and communications markets, introduced the KTD3122, Step-up Dual-Channel LED Driver for powering the backlight in smartphones and other portable devices. Extensive programmability combined with an integrated 30V power diode provides advantages in power efficiency, RF noise control, and PCB area.

The KTD3122 is a high efficiency step-up converter with dual-channel regulated current sinks. An integrated 30V power diode with 30V switching Power MOSFET not only saves PCB area but achieves high efficiency power conversion. The device can drive two-parallel strings of eight LEDs in series, which is targeted at mid- to high-end smartphone LCD panels.

LED dimming is handled via PWM and I²C control inputs. The KTD3122 attains an extremely wide range of PWM duty dimming, from 0.1% to 100% at 10kHz input frequency. I²C can program 256 steps of LED brightness, up to 30mA maximum per channel. Channel current matching and accuracy are 0.6% and 1.5%, respectively at 20mA. Programming features include several functions that optimize the tradeoff between efficiency and RF noise, which can speed up development time by fine-tuning parameters after the PCB layout is complete, avoiding subsequent PCB layout revisions.

“The continuous battle to improve efficiency, reduce PCB area, and reduce RF noise is getting more difficult over time. System design engineers pit each of these requirements against each other,” said Phil Dewsbury, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Kinetic Technologies. “The combination of a high efficiency proprietary integrated power diode and extensive software programmable features to improve efficiency and noise control make the KTD3122 a product which excels in all of these areas.”

The KTD3122 can be programmed for automatic ramp-up and ramp-down, either linearly or logarithmically. Additional programmability includes settings for over-voltage threshold, switching frequency, current limit value, and LED full scale current. The devices support a voltage input range of 2.7 to 5.5V and include over-temperature protection, over-voltage protection, LED open and short protection, and automatic recovery when the fault conditions are removed. The device is available in a 12-ball 1.2mm x 1.65mm x 0.62mm WLCSP or 16-pin 3mm x 3mm x 0.75mm TQFN package. The devices are rated over the -40 degree C to +85 degree C temperature range.

Key Features of KTD3122

Drives 2p8s LEDs with up to 30mA

Integrated High-Efficiency Power Diode

Wide Range PWM Dimming Input: 0.1% to 100% at 10kHz

I²C programming for 256-step dimming and extensive functional control

Protection features: LED short/open, over-temperature protection, cycle-by-cycle current limit