Maxim’s unique LED driver solution enables the design of LED-based MR16 lamps that are compatible with most electronic transformers and cut-angle dimmers.

Maxim Integrated Products (NASDAQ: MXIM) introduces the MAX16840, an LED driver that employs a proprietary architecture to ensure flicker-free, dimmable operation with electronic transformers and cut-angle dimmers. Maxim’s patent-pending approach enables the design of retrofit LED lamps that can replace halogen MR16s without any changes to the existing electrical infrastructure. This removes an important obstacle to commercial viability, allowing end users to enjoy all the benefits of LED lighting with substantially lower deployment costs.

Designing LED retrofit lamps

To facilitate adoption, LED retrofit lamps must be compatible with electronic transformers and cut-angle dimmers. These transformers and dimmers are designed for the perfectly resistive loads of traditional halogen lamps. LED drivers, however, are very nonlinear and not purely resistive loads. As a consequence, LED lamps flicker, do not dim, and in some cases do not turn on at all when used with the existing electrical infrastructure.
 
The MAX16840 solves this problem by using a unique, patent-pending approach to control the input current of the lamp. By actively shaping the input current it ensures flicker-free operation with most electronic transformers and dimmers. This enables LED lamp designers to create drop-in replacements for halogen MR16s, thus eliminating the costly infrastructural upgrades required by competitive solutions.

Extending lamp lifetime and fitting the MR16 form factor

In addition, the MAX16840 can be designed in without electrolytic capacitors. This extends the lifetime of the LED lamp, since electrolytic capacitors are usually the first component that fails in the driver circuit.

Operation without electrolytic capacitors reduces the cost and size of the driver, allowing it to fit in the small MR16 form factor. An integrated switching MOSFET further extends these space savings while reducing component count and cost.

Additional details
 
The MAX16840 can deliver up to 20W of power. It is fully specified over the -40 degrees Celsius to +125 degrees Celsius temperature range and is available in thermally enhanced, 3mm x 3mm, 10-pin TDFN package. Prices start at $2.01 (1000-up, FOB USA). For more information, please visit: www.maxim-ic.com/Flicker-Free-LEDs.

Maxim Integrated Products is a publicly traded company that designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance semiconductor products. The Company was founded over 25 years ago with the mission to deliver innovative analog and mixed-signal engineering solutions that add value to its customers' products. To date, it has developed over 6400 products serving the industrial, communications, consumer, and computing markets.

Maxim reported revenue of approximately $2.0 billion for fiscal 2010. A Fortune 1000 company, Maxim is included in the Nasdaq 100, the Russell 1000, and the MSCI USA indices. For more information, go to www.maxim-ic.com.