Easier Thermal Control for LED Lighting

October 28, 2009 - If you are having trouble reading this newsletter, click here to view it online.
 
Thermal design can be a more significant determinant of total light output in high-brightness LED designs than the electrical design. LED lifetimes can decrease as temperatures rise, and at high enough temperatures, LED efficacy decreases. To ease the thermal design challenges, National’s new PowerWise® LM3424 LED driver features thermal foldback which reduces regulated current through the LEDs as the temperature increases.

The LM3424 joins National’s growing portfolio of LED drivers, reference designs, and tools that make lighting design easier. Using National’s WEBENCH® LED Designer online simulation tool, designers may select their desired LED temperature breakpoints and slope and visualize the systems’ behavior at different temperatures for easy and quick development. Watch the video to learn how the PowerWise® LM3424 maintains LED lifetime and light output while ensuring the LED design’s warranty in automotive and indoor/outdoor lighting applications.

  

PLAY FLASH VIDEO

Video Podcast
 

DESIGN RESOURCES

WEBENCH LED Designer — Simulation tool, now with thermal management customization

national.com/led
Find tools, resources, and products for your next design

NEW!
LED Drivers for High-Brightness Lighting Solutions Guide

Companion Temperature Sensors for Lighting

Reference Designs
• RD-173 — Nuventix SynJet LED Bulb for MR16 and PAR lighting featuring LM3429 and LM2842 (PowerWise DesignTV video)

• RD-172 —LM3445 Offline TRIAC Dimmer LED Driver
(Demonstration video)

• Infrared® OLIROS LED Lighting Module featuring LM3423 and LM76 (PowerWise DesignTV video)

• LED Reference Design Library

Videos
An Introduction to High-Brightness LED Applications and Driving Techniques


LED Driver Design in Minutes

Driving High-Power LEDs Without Getting Burned —
Part 1 and Part 2

Articles
Dimming Techniques for Switched-Mode LED Drivers

Small, Wide Input Voltage Range LM2842 Keeps LEDs Cool

Driving LEDs: To Cap or Not to Cap
FEATURED PRODUCTS

LM3424 — PowerWise N-Channel Controller for Constant-Current LED Drivers

LM3445 — PowerWise TRIAC Dimmable Offline LED Driver

LM3409 — PowerWise PFET Buck Controller for High Power LED Drives

LM3421 / LM3423 / LM3429 — PowerWise N-Channel Controllers

LM94022 — PowerWise 1.5V Multi-Gain Analog Temperature Sensor

  
 
  
   
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