LYTSwitch-3 LED driver ics with wide support for thyristor dimmers

     Power Integrations, the world leader in high efficiency, high reliability LED driver ics, introduces the LytSwitch-3 product family - the latest addition to the company's LYTSwitch family of LED driver ics. Ideal for bulb, tube and downlight applications with a maximum output power of 20 W, LYTSwitch-3 provides excellent dimming performance with either front - or rear-edge thyristor dimmers and supports isolated and non-isolated topologies.

     The LYTSwitch-3IC features configurable dimming features that allow designers to optimize the dimming range and efficiency of the drive. The depth dimming response can also be set to extend the dimming range or to eliminate the possibility of flicker using a load-off mode. When there is no dimmer connection or when the dimmer is operating at the full on-angle, the dimmer management circuit of the IC is turned off to improve efficiency. 

     The new driver IC is unique in that it provides continuous power factor control and can be effectively managed even in dimming mode, which minimizes the apparent power consumption (VA) of the bulb during dimming, thereby preventing the impact on the grid that may occur during heavy use. The LYTSwitch-3 IC also has a thermal reentry feature that automatically adjusts the lighting output in the event of poor heat dissipation or high ambient temperatures, thereby preventing damage and extending the life of the bulb.

     Hubertus Notohamiprodjo, Director of Product Marketing at Power Integrations, said: "These new driver ics can be used to offer buck, boost, buck-boost, tap-buck, tap-buck-boost and isolated fly-back topologies. They are compatible with a wide range of dimmers and can select different MOSFET breakdown voltages to optimize design costs. This means that the same IC can be used in multiple single-panel, ultra-small designs, reducing design cycle time and component inventory."

     With a power factor greater than 0.9 and a THD of less than 10%, the LYTSwitch-3 driver IC meets all international energy efficiency standards including EN61000-3-2, CEC Title 20, CEC Title 24 and Energy STAR. The IC guarantees a constant current (CC) accuracy of 3% at different loads, input voltages, and considering individual device differences in series production. Like all Power Integrations products, this highly integrated device offers comprehensive protection while requiring fewer peripheral components than competing discrete designs, which not only improves reliability, but also reduces BOM costs and PCB board area.