BCR 32xU/42xU - New LED Drivers for 0.5 W LEDs

The BCR 320U/BCR 420U LED driver family is a low-cost solution for driving 0.5 W LEDs. Internal breakdown voltage is 20V (BCR 320U) and 40V (BCR 420U). This is the maximum voltage that the LED driver IC can sustain when connected to it directly.

The BCR 320U/BCR 420U can be operated at supply voltages above 20 V and 40 V respectively by simply stacking a series of LEDs in front of the LED driver IC, resulting in a certain voltage drop depending on the forward voltages of the LEDs. This brings the voltage at the supply pin of the driver IC down to a value below the maximum threshold.

A digital input pin (BCR 321U, BCR 421U) allows the LEDs to be dimmed via a microcontroller with frequencies up to 10 kHz. At higher temperatures, the output current is reduced  by 0.2 %/K as a result of the negative thermal coefficient of the LED driver IC.

With no need for additional external components such as inductors, capacitors or free-wheeling diodes, the BCR 320U/BCR 420U LED driver family is a cost-efficient and PCB-saving solution for driving 0.5 W LEDs.