Dual-dim LED driver provides single-chip TRIAC and digital dimming

Dialog Semiconductor has introduced the iW3690, a 'revolutionary' driver IC for LED smart lighting that combines digital control (I2C) with the company's advanced phase-cut TRIAC dimming technology. For the first time, a single chip solution provides Smart LED luminaires the ability to dim using digital commands, including those sent wirelessly, while working concurrently with traditional TRIAC wall dimmers, says the company. Suitable for applications up to 25W, the IC’s Dual-Dim technology enables dimming from 100% to 1% without flicker or shimmer. The driver IC works with any wireless protocol including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and ZigBee. Optimal wireless connectivity is made cost effective and easy using Dialog’s SmartBond™ DA14580 Bluetooth low energy System-on-Chip (SoC) to create a high-performance wireless smart dimming platform with the minimum number of external components and the lowest system bill of materials (BOM). The iW3690 enables digital link dimming and remote on/off at any AC phase conduction angle. It employs resonant control and features 0.95 power factor (PF), less than 20% total harmonic distortion (THD) and 85% typical efficiency, comfortably meeting DesignLights Consortium™ (DLC) requirements. The device automatically protects against over-temperature conditions, LED open and short circuits, AC line over-voltage, and output over-current. Davin Lee, senior vice president and general manager, Dialog Power Conversion Business Group, said: “Until now, designers were forced to compromise on legacy dimmer control in order to provide users with digital smart lighting control. Combining support for legacy analog dimmers with a digital interface in a single unifying IC offers designers of LED luminaires the most cost-effective and easy-to-implement control solution for smart lighting. Combining our leadership positon in innovative LED driver ICs and Bluetooth low energy SoCs enables Dialog to provide optimal interfacing and best-in-class standby power; an important factor given that smart lighting must be always-on in order to receive wireless commands.”