Recently, Tokyo Electron Device Ltd has launched an RGB LED control driver - the TE7118PF, for LED control applications such as LCD backlights, indoor LED lightings, and LED illumination lights. The TE7118PF can handle high voltages and has a constant-current output in the range 5mA to 30mA which can be configured via an external resistor.

LEDs are expected to appear in numerous different applications in the future. However, unstable brightness caused by variation in the diode's forward voltage means that LEDs require a dedicated constant-current control circuit to achieve consistent light output. The TE7118PF is a special-purpose LED control drivers with 3-channel built-in constant-current control circuits. Because the constant-current output of each circuit can be varied in the range 5mA to 30mA by an external resistor, the brightness of each channel can be adjusted independently. Also, the high withstand voltage of the ports means that seven standard LEDs can be connected in series.

The TE7118PF RGB LED Control Drivers Specifications include:
1.    3-channel built-in constant-current control circuits(As each channel can drive 7 LEDs connected in series, one chip can support a maximum of 3 channels x 7 LEDs = 21 LEDs)
2.    High withstand voltage: 28V
3.    Constant-current output range: Variable in the range 5mA to 30mA
4.    Supports daisy-chain connections
5.    Maximum frequency: 20MHz
6.    Package TSSOP-20

Samples of the TE7118PF are now available, with mass production scheduled for December 2008. Tokyo Electron Device is aiming for sales of 100 million yen during the product's initial production phase in 2009.