If you need to learn about dimmers, IWatt presented a very useful paper at APEC 2011 – Adaptive Chopping Circuit for Retrofit Dimmable LED Driver.
The presentation includes an excellent introduction to ‘good’ and ‘bad’ dimmers – the waveforms in the picture are from a ‘bad’ one – and what they do to…
NXP Semiconductors has announced a phase-cut dimmable single-stage controller for LED bulbs using 12Vac power: MR16 AR111, for example.
Called SSL3401, it is claimed to work “with over 80% of the most common dimmers-transformers combinations”, and to dim “below 5% of maximum light output in most common…
See this article for more general information.
iWatt has put an awful lot of work into dimmer compatibility into its latest ac-dc converter for LED replacement light bulbs.
The chip is almost entirely digital, and has no microcontroller.
Instead, control is implemented in state-machines, which the firm’s…
Cornwall-based OMC has introduced a range of light engines for LED luminaries, called Spectralux, writes Steve Bush. “Spectralux light engines allow customers to concentrate on what they do best – creating and taking innovative and appealing products to market – using efficient, reliable and cost-effective LED assemblies that have a…
Atmel has achieved ZigBee Light Link Certification for its wireless controller reference design, writes Steve Bush. Light Link is one of the competing technologies for consumers wireless control over domestic LED fixtures, light bulbs, timers, remotes and switches. One controller can handle up to 255 devices…
Choice of LED driver topology can improve the power efficiency of LED backlight systems in mobiles and other battery-powered systems, writes Jan Enenkel of austriamicrosystems In the latest generation of smartphones, which feature large displays suitable for showing web pages and video, the LED backlight system is one of…
Cirrus Logic is the latest chip supplier to enter the LED lighting market with its first digital LED controller, writes Richard Wilson. The company claims to have a way of tackling dimmer compatibility issues that are a feature of LED lights.
“Several years ago Cirrus Logic identified the growing LED…