A power control IC company iWatt, Inc., has launched two primary-side-regulated, leading- and trailing-edge-dimmable, AC/DC Digital PWM Controllers which are available in 100V/230VAC offline LED lighting applications.

Both LED driver ICs are pin compatible with the previous-generation iW3610, but offer wider dimmer compatibility and introduce new hot-plug support, where the user can swap the LED engine without recycling the input power for the LED driver.

The devices allow smooth, flicker-free dimming from 1% to 100% with tight ±5% LED current regulation which prevents flicker from noisy line voltage.

The AC/DC power conversion ICs also feature a digital feedback and control loop versus analog.
The high switching frequency up to 200kHz enables designers to use smaller capacitors and transformers to optimize space. Additionally, designers may use a smaller heat sink because the high efficiency (85% or better) reduces thermal loss.

iWatt’s primary-side-control technology eliminates the opto-coupler, and coupled with low inrush current and low ripple current by design, lengthens the life of the LED driver assembly.