ON Semiconductor Introduces High Performance Multi-Channel LED Driver with Serial Interface for Easy Programming

October 31, 2011

NCP1840 extends battery life, offers programmable logarithmic brightness control, and greater blinking flexibility for industrial, computing and consumer applications

NCP1840 Multi-Channel LED Driver image.

PHOENIX, Ariz. Oct. 31, 2011 – ON Semiconductor (Nasdaq: ONNN), a premier supplier of high performance silicon solutions for energy efficient electronics, today announced the introduction of the NCP1840, a multi-LED driver with the ability to drive up to eight LEDs independently, using any illumination pattern the user creates. The NCP1840 is ideal for multi-LED status indicators that communicate status and diagnostic conditions to the user, and can help differentiate an end product via LED animation.  

By utilizing the NCP1840, engineers can offload some of the work normally handled by the processor in their system design, as it no longer needs to directly control each individual LED.  Current and dimming level programming is conveniently done by writing to and reading registers via a serial interface that uniformly controls the brightness and blink rate of each LED.  LED brightness levels can be controlled logarithmically —rather than linearly— to accommodate natural eye viewing with no brightness distortion.   

The device is well suited for portable applications due to its ability to extend battery life by using a high efficiency, low noise, quad-mode charge pump.  The charge pump and constant current regulators maintain forward LED voltage and active operation despite swings in input voltage.   The NCP1840 also saves on space by requiring only five small ceramic capacitors and one resistor to form a complete LED power supply and current controller.

“The NCP1840 sets itself apart from other high end LED drivers, thanks to the variety of innovative features it incorporates, so that engineering teams are not faced with having to compromise on design concepts,” said Ryan Cameron, vice president of Custom Industrial and Timing Products at ON Semiconductor. “This device helps OEMs cost-effectively use dynamic LED illumination to communicate product status, diagnostic feedback, and to differentiate their products in increasingly competitive environments.” 

Ideal for applications in the industrial, computing and consumer end markets, the device is offered in a Pb-free, RoHS compliant 4 mm x 4 mm QFN-20 package, and supports an operating temperature range of -40°C to +85°C.  The NCP1840 is priced at $0.94 per unit in 1,000 unit quantities.

For more information, please visit https://www.onsemi.com.

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onsemi (Nasdaq: ON) is driving disruptive innovations to help build a better future. With a focus on automotive and industrial end-markets, the company is accelerating change in megatrends such as vehicle electrification and safety, sustainable energy grids, industrial automation, and 5G and cloud infrastructure. onsemi offers a highly differentiated and innovative product portfolio, delivering intelligent power and sensing technologies that solve the world’s most complex challenges and leads the way to creating a safer, cleaner, and smarter world. onsemi is recognized as a Fortune 500® company and included in the S&P 500® index. Learn more about onsemi at www.onsemi.com.

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