Dialog Semiconductor has launched its innovative solid-state lighting (SSL) LED driver platform

     Dialog Semiconductor, Inc. has introduced its innovative solid-state lighting (SSL) LED driver platform, a new generation of LED bulbs designed to achieve superior dimming performance and dimmer compatibility with ultra-low material (BOM) costs. As the platform's first LED driver, the iW3688 is compatible with the widest range of phase-cut dimmers - including TRIAC and digital dimmers - for flicker-free dimming. In addition, it helps manufacturers reduce the cost of LED bulbs by eliminating more than 20 components such as external bleed circuits using Dialog's patented built-in digital control technology.

     The iW3688 single-stage LED drivers are designed for applications within 20W, including A lights, BR, candle lights, GU10 and PAR lights, T8 LED tubes, and external lighting drivers. It uses Dialog's patented intelligent digital dimmer control technology to deliver superior performance and is compatible with the most challenging TRIAC and digital dimmers. Not only that, but Dialog's leading proprietary digital algorithms enable integrated active bias capabilities that improve dimming performance and reduce costs compared to traditional external bleed-off circuits.

     Davin Lee, senior vice President and general manager of the Power Conversion Business Group at Dialog Semiconductors, said: "Dialog has invented a digital adaptive control LED driver IC to address the performance and cost issues of SSL luminaires. Our innovative iW3688 LED driver platform once again extends our leadership in dimmer compatibility, dimming performance and low material costs - improvements and performance that can only be achieved through digital control technology."

     In order to maintain a positive pilot, the TRIAC dimmer requires a minimum load current. For high-efficiency, low-power LED bulbs, often because they cannot provide enough current to keep the TRIAC dimmer on, the TRIAC dimmer prematurely terminates the conduction cycle, causing the LED bulb to flicker. Many low-power bulb designs attempt to use a discharge circuit to capture additional current during the TRIAC dimmer turn-on. However, passive discharge circuits greatly reduce efficiency, while active discharge circuits are more efficient, but require many costly external components. Not only that, both active and passive discharge circuits consume more energy in the bulb, which greatly increases the internal temperature of LED bulbs and shortens their service life.

     The iW3688 eliminates the cost of 20 external components, including 10 components required for an external discharge circuit, using Dialog's integrated digital algorithm to modulate the main MOSFET switch to obtain additional current during dimming. Eliminate the external discharge circuit by ensuring that the input current is always greater than the TRIAC's maintenance threshold during the forward pass. The iW3688 also further reduces material costs by simplifying the EMI filter circuit and having a built-in current source, switch and VCC charging circuit. The iW3688's advanced power management and voltage detection capabilities allow manufacturers to use low-cost off-the-shelf inductors, resulting in further cost savings.

     The iW3688 uses Dialog's Overtemperature Protection (OTP) derating technology to address the service life of LED bulbs caused by overheating. OTP monitors the temperature in sealed SSL bulbs and seamlessly reduces brightness when the temperature is above a safe operating threshold; When the temperature drops, the brightness is restored. This reduces the operating temperature, avoids exceeding the rated temperature of the electrolyte capacitor, and ensures a predictable and safer bulb life.