Single LED Short Circuit Detection LED Driver
Reference voltage can be adjusted using a resistor.
Detection of open load faults and ground short circuit faults

The amount of LEDs used in automobiles is rapidly increasing.

The use of LEDs enables diverse automotive lighting designs and expressions, while also enhancing safety on the road. However, LED defects affect lighting reliability. Infineon announced the launch of the LITIX Basic+ family of LED drivers, which incorporates a highly flexible single LED short-circuit diagnostic function. The new Active Retry mode reduces the possibility of misdiagnosis, thereby minimizing unnecessary visits to repair shops by drivers.
American and German automotive companies are demanding LED driver products capable of detecting single LED short circuits. The LITIX Basic+ product family offers three devices that integrate this feature: the TLD2132-1EP, TLD2131-3EP (1in/3out), and TLD2331-3EP (3in/3out), which are 1-in/1-out products. For fault diagnosis, the voltage of the LED chain is compared to a pre-specified reference voltage. Depending on the LED used and operating conditions, the reference voltage can be adjusted using a resistor.

When an error occurs, the LED driver reports the status to the microcontroller. Depending on the system's diagnostic request, the corresponding channel is either disabled or left enabled. Unlike other solutions on the market, the LITIX Basic+ product offers an additional active retry function even when a channel is disabled. Active retry refers to temporarily re-enabling the channels to periodically scan the LEDs. This allows for an automatic restart once the error condition is cleared.

The LITIX Basic+ product can detect open-load and ground short-circuit faults in addition to single LED short circuits. Furthermore, the diagnostic functions can be flexibly configured.

The LITIX Basic+ LED driver family consists of a total of six devices (single-channel and 3-channel products) and supports LED current ranges from 5mA to 360mA. In addition to products integrating a single LED short-circuit detection function, two products—TLD2141-3EP (1in/3out) and TLD2142-1EP (1in/1out)—feature built-in PWM timer modules. These products allow for the economical implementation of hybrid taillights (combining brake lights and taillights). The PWM function enables precise achievement of the required light intensity. The TLD1114-1EP (1in/1out) incorporates a power shift function to dissipate heat resulting from power loss.