November 8, 2012, Seoul — Infineon Technologies (Korea Representative Director Seung-soo Lee) has launched a family of LINLED driver products for automotive applications. The new TLD73xxEK system-on-chip device enables attractive multicolor ambient lighting based on RGB (Red-Green-Blue) blending and allows for the creation of various interior colors using predefined color points. The integrated LIN transceiver reduces wiring by up to 25% (reducing the number of wires from four to three) and provides pre-programmed control functions for blending and dimming, eliminating the need for system manufacturers to develop additional software.

The Infineon TLD73xxEK LINLED driver family includes four distinct products that are scalable according to output current and LIN protocols based on LIN 2.1 and SAE J2602 standards. The product family integrates logic, memory, a LIN interface, and a 3-channel linear current source or three external driver stages into a single device. To achieve predefined color points for multiple RGB modules, it stores calibration points for up to 16 colors in integrated memory.

Andreas Doll, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Body Power Automotive at Infineon Technologies, said, “Infineon provides vehicle-optimized LED products that support flicker-free ambient lighting, enabling automakers and OEMs to produce differentiated products.”

By using LEDs that mix red, green, and blue emitters, it is theoretically possible to support a wide range of colors without limitations. The technical challenge is to achieve predefined colors for each RGB module by taking into account the deviation between each LED, even when environmental conditions change. Infineon is one of the few semiconductor suppliers that provides integrated memory capable of storing pre-calibrated data for up to 16 color points by mixing three primary colors to compensate for these changes.

The integrated state machine of the TLD73xxEK product supports smooth color transitioning and theater dimming functions without requiring system vendors to develop additional software. Typically, color mixing is performed using pulse width modulation (PWM), but low PWM frequencies can cause flickering in the lighting output. Infineon's TLD73xxEK LINLED driver family supports flicker-free lighting output by driving LEDs with high-frequency signals using a proprietary solution for color mixing.

The TLD73xxEK family can be used worldwide because it incorporates LIN transceivers that meet LIN 2.1 and SAE J2602 standards. Each device can be programmed with a unique LIN address and can also integrate different modules into groups to respond simultaneously to transmitted LIN messages.

Supply and packaging
All versions of the LINLED product family are currently in mass production. The devices are shipped in space-saving PG-DSO-14 packages that support an “exposed pad” for superior thermal operation. The TLD7305EK (SAE J2602 compliant) and TLD7306EK (LIN 2.1 compliant) each integrate up to 48mA of output current, providing three linear current sources that support stable current across the entire LED regardless of external environmental conditions. TLD7395EK (SAE J2602 compatible) and TLD7396EK (LIN 2.1 compatible) provide the ability to control bipolar transistors through external driving capabilities to increase current, enabling them to drive high-power LEDs from 48mA up to 2A.

Additional information
E-learning courses on ambient lighting and the Infineon LINLED driver family, as well as more detailed technical information on the TLD73xxEK LINLED driver family, are available at: www.infineon.com/linled . Infineon's complete LED product portfolio for automotive and industrial applications can be viewed at: www.infineon.com/lighting .