StarChips

Technology FAQ V01_01; Nov/08

StarChips LED Driver FAQ
Q1. Why do we need to use constant current driver ICs？ ？
Ans: LED (Light Emitting Diode) is composed of P and N semiconductor. When
it is connected to forward voltage VF and current IF from P to N, LED P and N
junctions release light and heat energy due to electron-hole combination. After
lighting up LED, TJ rises、VF decreases、IF rises、and then TJ rises again until
LED fails, so called “Thermal Run Away”. StarChips’ constant current driver
ICs can control IF to prevent LED from “Thermal Run Away” to improve
efficiency and life time of LED.

？
Q2. Applicable filed of StarChips’ constant current driver ICs？
Ans:

Application for display and screen
16 bit series : SCT2024、SCT2026、SCT2210
8 bit series：SCT2167、SCT2110

Application for lighting and back-lighted board
16 channel series：SCT2016、SCT2016S
8 channel series：SCT2008、SCT2008S
4 channel series：SCT2004、SCT2004S
3 channel series：SCT2001、SCT2303

Application for mixed and decorative lighting
4 bit series：SCT2007
3 bit series：SCT2003
1 bit series：SCT2013

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StarChips LED Driver FAQ FAQ
Q3. What kind of features are StarChips’ constant current driver ICs ?
Ans:
 Constant current output tolerant range：±1%(bit skew), ±3%(chip skew)
 Excellent response for small gray area：high speed OE input signal around 50ns
 Constant current output channel endurance voltage：24V
 Wide power supply range：3V-5.5V
 Low static current consumption：<15mA
 High speed data transfer rate：25MHz
 Integrated internal Schmitt triggered device, supporting stable high speed data
transfer interface
 Precise constant current output range：5mA–350mA
 Over temperature protection : TJ>160°C to cut off output current, TJ<110°C to
turn on output current
 Using only one external resistor to adjust output current of each channel
 Output current independent of loading and input voltage
 The best performance over cost

Q4. How to adjust StarChips’ output constant current of driver ICs？ ？

Ans: StarChips’ LED ICs can be employed to control each channel’s output
current by an external resistor. According to the formula of datasheet, users can
get output current and external resistor value.

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StarChips LED Driver FAQ FAQ
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Q5. How to use one resistor to control multi-chips’ output current？
Ans: To take SCT2024 for example,

Each SCT2024 has an external REXT and is connected to a global REXT

Output current formula IOUT = 30[630 / (REXT+(Global REXT*8))] (mA).

Users, when doing PCB layout, must pay attention to GND of SCT2024 IC
and Global REXT, whose voltage level should be the same; otherwise every
output current and brightness will not be uniform.

Q6. How to use low-cost supply voltage circuit for VDD input of LED driver ICs？ ？
Ans: Generally in system application, voltage supplies are not the same
between supply and LED loading terminals. We thus provide a simple and low
cost solution as below, combining a resistor with Zener diode to get a constant
voltage circuit to supply power for LED driver IC,
R=(VLED-VZD)/(IDD(max)+IZD(max))。

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StarChips LED Driver FAQ FAQ
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Q7. How to use PWM signal to control LED driver ICs to adjust LED brightness？
Ans: We can use MCU to produce PWM signal to control OE pin of LED driver
IC to adjust LED brightness.

Q8. How to use StarChips’ LED driver ICs to get the best power efficiency？ ？
Ans: To take SCT2024 for example, assumed output current is 20mA and VLED is
5V, VOUT cut in > 0.5V.

If LED is green or blue VF is about 3.3V. Chip output power dissipation is
P = (VLED-VF)x20mA = (5.0V-3.3V)x20mA = 34mW

If LED is red VF is about 2V. Chip output power dissipation is
P = (VLED-VF)x20mA = (5.0V-2.0V)x20mA = 60mW

From two examples above, system designers need to consider relationship
between loading voltage and output cut-in voltage (VOUT). Too small cut-in
voltage (VOUT) can not get constant current output, and too large cut-in
voltage (VOUT) will cause low efficiency.

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StarChips LED Driver FAQ FAQ
Q9. Constant current driver ICs’ output maximum endurance voltage is 24V.
What should be aware of for system designers?
Ans:

Constant current driver ICs’ output maximum endurance voltage is 24V due
to foundry manufacturing limitation.

Below two points should be noticed in system design：
a) OE enable, output turn-on; suggestion VOUT<4V.
b) OE disable, output cut-off; suggestion VOUT<24V.
VOUT=VLED-VF。

Q10. Why cascading multi-chips easily causes data loss during high speed
data transmission？ ？
Ans:

In system design, we need to consider internal signal delay (CLK and SDO)
and external PCB transmission skew, which will results in insufficient
Timing Budget to cause data in disorder.

When cascading multi-chips, we need to consider driving capability of
transmission interface, usually using 74HC244/5 to improve that of
interface in system design.

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StarChips LED Driver FAQ FAQ
Q11. Whether StarChips’ ICs need to cascade a small value of resistor？？
Ans:

Not absolutely！The resistor is StarChips’ reference suggestion for
customers to improve system reliability when designing PCB. Due to
cost-down consideration, some customers were used to connecting VDD and
VLED together even using two-layer PCB without power or ground plane.
More over, since power and ground traces are not wide enough, it will
easily cause VDD to overshoot during power on or OE switching. The
cascade resistor is to prevent VDD from overshooting to cause chip damage,
and as a result system will work normally.

VDD/VLED overshoot

SCT2016
GND VDD
1 20
OE REXT
2 19
OUT1-8 OUT9-16
3-10 11-18
REXT
TSSOP20

PWM Pulse

Revision History (check up-to-date version)

Data Sheet Version Remark
V01_01 New Release
Any technical questions, please mail to: tech@starchips.com.tw

StarChips Technology, Inc. www.starchips.com.tw

4F, No.5, Technology Rd.,Science-Based Industrial Park, Hsin-Chu,Taiwan, R.O.C. Tel: +886-3-577-5767 # 555

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