LED BLU driver IC

In recent years, with the emergence of new technologies, intense competition between liquid crystal display (LCD) and plasma display panel (PDP). With more technology options, this competition has led to a decline in the prices of related products. As the market is close to saturation, a significant change is emerging, then many people call the LED backlight module (BLU) will become a new generation of products display applications. Some people touted LED BLU, said its improved characteristics are significantly different from the cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) BLU. LED BLU has the following advantages: wide color range, high contrast, mercury free, in line with RoHS, with low voltage drive capability and the advantages of fast response time. In addition to the overall advantage of LED to make an assessment, it is also necessary to examine the LED BLU power solutions. The high cost of cost barrier LED BLU is the only obstacle to LED into the new era of display applications. LED BLU shows superior visual performance, and has been popular as a small panel in the field of mobile applications for several years. Because the manufacturers in overcoming obstacles to cost unremittingly, this technology is slowly penetrate into the application field of middle panel, such as digital photo frame, car navigation system, notebook computer and display. In addition, many mainstream TV manufacturers, although still unable to meet the requirements of low-cost market, they are still trying to create a new LED TV market through the introduction of new BLU.

Drive ICLED BLU larger panel size requirements drive IC to handle more requests. Large panel TV LED BLU BLU in the circuit must be considered in the following (at least) two functions: local dimming and pulse drive, to obtain a better contrast and definition of action, these two are the key advantages of LED BLU and CCFL BLU when compared to the. LED BLU driver IC performs dynamic backlight control, especially for larger panels instead of small panels when it is possible to distinguish the highlights of LED with other necessary existing lights. A small panel for use in a mobile display or a digital camera frame does not require local dimming or pulse drive, and does not require an excellent visual effect when a larger panel is displayed. To design the dynamic control of the driver for LED BLU TV, the LED matrix is essential for the detailed design, because the number of channels, the current size of each channel and the size of the voltage is the key to the IC specification IC. Recently, many TV manufacturers began to sell their new LED BLU more aggressively.

RGB and white LED

The emergence of white light LED will solve the obstacles hinder the use of LED two BLU: high cost of LED lights and LED matrix design uncertainties. Although RGB LED display visual effects (especially in the range of color than white LED) is much better, but the research shows that the human eye is difficult to distinguish the difference between RGB LED and white LED, because at first glance the eyes of the brightness of the most sensitive, while RGB and LED are almost the same in brightness white light.

Figure 1 according to Displaybank data show that in 2010, the LED market will account for the overall BLU market 40%

But the white LED is much cheaper than the RGB LED, so, despite the white LED is still more expensive than CCFL, TV manufacturing commercial white LED quickly opened up a new market. The decision on the type of LED accelerates the design of the matrix. In addition to the designer through the clock control of each RGB color, no need to worry about local dimming. White light LED also solves many other problems, such as the complexity of circuit design and the concept of current balance is not clear.

Power IC opportunities

LED BLU creates a new opportunity for power IC. For example, several modules can be integrated into an BLU to reduce the number of input voltage and system power supply, or the DC/DC module can be added to the multi-channel equalization function to provide appropriate current for each channel.

This means that we will see more changes in the LED BLU market, which is not only related to MOSFET, but also related to the driver IC. The IC market, which supports CCFL BLU, is very closed and several key IC manufacturers dominate the market, and when new companies enter the market, they can cause serious conflicts.

LED market is different, because LED BLU for its own circuit design is the DC/DC product rather than inverter products. In this market, the most important factor for success is that the designer can accurately optimize the drive IC specification, to provide consumers with a system related IC". The design concept of LED BLU is still faced with a possible change, which can improve the cost structure of various details of different screen sizes.

The timing is right

Considering the size of the market, many observers are very cautious about this issue: LED BLU will become the next generation backlight solution? CCFL continues to innovate in terms of improving performance and reducing costs. In addition, the emergence of active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) technology may lead to LED is no longer popular. However, according to market research firm Displaybank data show that by 2010, the LED market is expected to account for 40% of the entire BLU market, see figure 1.

Market leader LED and technology has eliminated many technical obstacles, while the LED BLU new prototype implies that the market will suddenly increase The path winds along mountain ridges. Because CCFL relies on generic DC/DC technology rather than proprietary technology related to the unique, LED driven IC market will have more opportunities than the CCFL inverter market.

Any willing to achieve a perfect system