User's Guide
SNVA309A – January 2008 – Revised May 2013
AN-1764 LM3431 Evaluation Board
1
Introduction
The LM3431 is a combination switching boost voltage regulator and multi-channel LED current controller.
The LM3431 Evaluation Board is designed to drive four parallel strings of eight series LEDs at 140mA per
string from an input voltage range of 8V to 18V. The boost switcher regulates LED cathode voltage for
optimum efficiency, while allowing the output voltage to vary according to the LED forward voltage. The
LM3431 incorporates complete fault protection features including LED short and open protection, overcurrent protection, over-voltage and under-voltage protection, and thermal shutdown. The error detection
flag can be monitored at the DLY post, which has a programmable delay time.
The board includes a DIM input terminal for a selectable digital or analog dimming control signal. PWM
dimming frequencies up to 1kHz at 100:1 contrast ratio and contrast ratios up to 500:1 at 200Hz are
possible.
The evaluation board is designed to operate at ambient temperatures up to 70°C.
The complete evaluation board schematic is shown in Figure 2. Typical waveforms and performance
curves are shown in Figure 3 through Figure 8.
Although a wide variety of LED combinations and currents can be driven with the LM3431, the schematic
must be modified to achieve optimum performance with any given array. However, for initial evaluation
and demonstration, some modifications from the default settings are possible. A few of the possible
variations are described below and listed in Table 2 and Table 3.
LED current can be set as low as 100mA per string without significantly degrading performance; the
number of strings can be reduced from 4 to 3 or 2; and the number of series LEDs can be set between 6
and 9.
To design for LED arrays other than the default, and for complete device and design information, refer to
the LM3431/31A/31Q/31AQ 3-Channel Constant Current LED Driver With Integrated Boost Controller
(SNVS547) data sheet.
2
Before Powering Up
Before powering up the LM3431 evaluation board, a few options must be selected.
First, verify that the default LED current setting of 140mA is appropriate to drive the LEDs. To drive LEDs
at other currents, refer to Table 2. If the required LED current is not listed, refer to the LM3431 data sheet
(SNVS547), as more extensive modifications will be required.
By default, the LM3431 evaluation board has channels 1-4 enabled. To drive fewer channels, first remove
the sense resistor or NPN on the channel to be disabled (R10-R13 or Q2-Q5). Then refer to Table 3 and
make any other required changes. This table also gives options for driving fewer LEDs per string.
Finally, select the type of dimming control signal to be used. By default, R-MODE is installed, which
enables digital dimming control mode. To use this mode, connect a digital PWM signal to the DIM post.
The dimming signal must have a minimum high logic level of 2.3V.
To enable analog dimming, remove the MODE resistor and connect an analog voltage level to the DIM
post. In analog mode, the dimming duty cycle is varied by the voltage at the DIM post within a range of
0.37V to 2.5V. The default analog dimming frequency is 1kHz. To modify this frequency, change C5 as
described in the datasheet.
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AN-1764 LM3431 Evaluation Board
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Before Powering Up
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Any dimming frequency between 180Hz and 20kHz can be used in either digital or analog dimming control
mode. However the default schematic is not designed for dimming frequencies above 1kHz.Once the
evaluation board has been configured, connect the LED strings as shown in Figure 2. The first anode of
each string connects to the VA post and the last cathode of each string connects to VC1 through VC4.
LEDs can be connected either via the 8-pin header or to the terminal posts. Figure 1 shows the pinout of
the header.
board outline
VA
VA
VC3 VC2 VC1 VC4 GND THM
8-pin header
Figure 1. LED Connection, Top View Header Pinout
Connect the input voltage supply to the VIN and GND posts.
When all connections and polarities have been verified, power can be applied. When the input voltage
rises above 7.7V typically, the EN pin will cross the UVLO threshold and the LM3431 will startup. EN can
be pulled low (via the EN post) to shutdown the evaluation board.
2
AN-1764 LM3431 Evaluation Board
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Before Powering Up
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8V to 18V input
700 kHz switching, 180 Hz ± 1 kHz dimming
4 strings of 8 LEDs, 140 mA per string
D10 *
L1
7 PH 3.1A
Vin: 8V to 18V
C1 C16*
1 PF
RVCC
*
VCC
+ C2
10 PF
R1
105k
R2
20k
RMODE
0:
EN
R16 10k
DIM
LG
EN
CS
DIM
C5
10 nF
MODE/F
REF
R4 5.76k
External
Thermistor
C10*
C14
*
R18
33.2k
R3
51m:
THM
LM3431
GND
AFB
VCC
R25 0:
THM
R17 95.3k
VC1
D2-5 3003C
VC2
VC3
VCC
D6-9 1001A
R9 909:
COMP
CFB
C4 47 nF
FF
R5b
15.8k
SNS1
RT
SNS2
C7
4.7 nF
SGND
EP
Q4
2N2222
SNS3
R21 - R23
*
R10
2.2:
R11
2.2:
R12
2.2:
+
R15 1k
Q3
2N2222
NDRV3
DLY
Q5
2N2222
Q2
2N2222
NDRV2
SS/SH
R6
34.8k C6
47 nF
REFIN
Op1
LMV710
NDRV1
VCC
C3
4.7 PF
R5a
0:
VC4
R24 *
SC
REFIN
C13 *
THM
PGND
R8 13k C12 * R7 88.7k
C11 *
R19
562k
C8,C9
4.7 PF
ILIM
LEDOFF
VA
Q1
Si4446
R20 *
VIN
LED ARRAY = 4 x 8 @140 mA
D1 40V 2A
R13
2.2:
Q6
2N7002k
R14
10k
VCC
LEDOFF
Rrestart
*
C15
10 nF
* = not installed
Figure 2. Complete LM3431 Eval Board Schematic
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3
Bill of Materials
3
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Bill of Materials
Table 1. Standard Bill of Materials
Ref #
Function
IC1
4
Description
Part Number
Manufacturer
Texas Instruments
Boost controller and LED driver
LM3431
C1
Cin
1µF 50V B ceramic
GRM32RB11H105KA01
Murata
C2
Cin
10µF 50V electrolytic
UUD1H100MCL
Nichicon
C3
VCC
4.7µF 10V X7R ceramic
C2012X7R1A475M
TDK
C4
Comp
47nF 50V X7R ceramic
GRM21BR71H473KA01L3K
Murata
C5
MODE/F
10nF 10V COG ceramic
GRM2195C1H103JA01D
Murata
C6
SS
47nF 50V X7R ceramic
GRM21BR71H473KA01L3K
Murata
C7
DLY
4.7nF 50V COG ceramic
GRM2165C1H472JA01D
Murata
C8
VA
4.7µF 50V X7R ceramic
GRM32ER71H475KA88L
Murata
C9
VA
4.7µF 50V X7R ceramic
GRM32ER71H475KA88L
Murata
C10
VA
not installed
-
-
C11
REFIN bypass
not installed
-
-
C12
REF bypass
not installed
-
-
C13
Comp2
not installed
-
-
C14
THM
not installed
-
-
C15
OP1
10nF 10V COG ceramic
GRM2195C1H103JA01D
Murata
C16
Cin
not installed
-
-
D1
power diode
2A 40V Schottky diode
SS24
Vishay
D2-D3
SC
600mA dual cathode diode
CMPD3003C
Central
Semiconductor
D4-D5
SC
600mA dual cathode diode
CMPD3003C
Central
Semiconductor
D6-D7
CFB
250mA dual anode diode
CMPD1001A
Central
Semiconductor
D8-D9
CFB
250mA dual anode diode
CMPD1001A
Central
Semiconductor
D10
bypass diode
not installed
-
-
L1
power coil
7µH 3.1A inductor
MSS1038-702NL
Coilcraft
Texas Instruments
Op1
ch.4
rail to rail op amp
LMV710
Q1
Power FET
4A 40V N-channel MOSFET
Si4446DY
Vishay
Q2-Q5
regulator
40V 600mA NPN transistor
CXT2222A
Central
Semiconductor
Q6
ch.4
60V 200mA N-channel MOSFET
2N7002K
Vishay
R1
EN uvlo set
105k 1%
R2
EN uvlo set
20k
R3
I sense
51mohm 0.5W 1%
WSL2010R0510F
Vishay
R4
I limit
5.76k 1%
R5a
FF
0Ω
R5b
FF
15.8k 1%
R6
RT
34.8k
R7
REFIN set
88.7k 1%
R8
REFIN set
13.0k 1%
R9
Comp
909Ω 1%
R10 - R13
LED sense
2.2Ω 1%
R14
ch.4
10k
R15
ch.4
1k
R16
DIM
10k
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Optional Components
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Table 1. Standard Bill of Materials (continued)
Ref #
Function
Description
R17
THM
95.3k
Part Number
Manufacturer
R18
AFB
33.2k
R19
AFB
562k
R20
HG
not installed
R21 - R23
-
-
NDRV
not installed
-
-
R24
ch.4
not installed
-
-
R25
THM hys
0Ω
Rmode
MODE/F
0Ω
Rrestart
restart select
not installed
-
-
not installed
-
-
RVCC
4
Optional Components
Several of the components shown in the schematic are not installed and are optional. These components
are typically not required, but may be useful in some applications.C10 is provided for adding additional
output capacitance or for using more capacitors with smaller case sizes.C11 and C12 can be used to filter
reference voltage noise. Noise at the REF_IN pin can appear as noise in the LED current. Whether these
capacitors are required depends on the amount of switching noise, type of NPN used, and how much
noise is tolerable in the LED current. C13 is a second compensation capacitor, which may be required if a
high ESR output capacitor is used. Refer to the SNVS547 data sheet for details.
D10 provides a current path from VIN to VA during startup. By bypassing the inductor, D10 prevents VA
from rising above VIN at the initial power-on. In some conditions an OVP fault may occur at startup
without D10 installed.
R20 is a gate drive resistor for the NFET, Q1. An R20 value of up to 10Ω can be used to reduce the rise
and fall time of the gate drive to reduce switching noise. To install R20, first cut the trace between the R20
pads.
R21-R23 are NDRV pull-down resistors. A value of 300Ω to 1k can reduce LED current noise. These
resistors are typically most effective when driving NFET current regulators. RVCC connects VCC to VIN.
For 5V input applications, a 4.7Ω resistor should be installed here to pull-up VCC. For these applications,
additional input capacitance at C16 may also be required.
R-restart enables the automatic restart function. Auto-restart cannot be enabled when four LED channels
are used. If three or fewer channels are being driven, install R-restart with 0Ω to enable the auto-restart
function, which restarts the LM3431 after a fault shutdown.
R-MODE selects the DIM control mode as was described previously. For lower current applications, there
is a second Q1 pad which fits SOT-23 size NFETs.
An external NTC thermistor can be connected either between the THM pad and SGND terminal post or via
pins 7 and 8 on the 8-pin header. This thermistor is used to monitor LED temperature. With the installed
R17 value, the LM3431 will enter standby when the thermistor resistance falls to 31kΩ. For example, a
thermistor with a 25°C resistance of 680k and a beta constant of 4125 will yield a shutdown temperature
of 110°C.
R25 is a hysteresis resistor for the THM function. The default value is 0Ω which results in a restart
hysteresis of 10°C. Use R25 to increase the THM hysteresis according to the data sheet description.
C14 can be installed as a noise filter for the external thermistor voltage.
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5
LED String Options
5
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LED String Options
Table 2 and Table 3 give the required component changes for driving LED arrays other than the default.
The values shown assume a typical LED Vf of 3.2V at 140mA. These tables are designed for simplicity
and ease of modification, not optimum performance. Therefore, any of the changes listed below will result
in a lower maximum contrast ratio as compared to the default LED array. For optimum performance, all
component values should be reviewed. R5 in the tables refers to the sum of R5a and R5b shown on the
schematic. For the best performance, R5 can be manually adjusted for the specific input voltage, dimming
frequency, and LED current of each application.
Table 2. LED Current Settings (nc = no change)
LED current
R7
R8
R5
160mA
78.7k
13k
nc
130mA
100k
13k
17.4k
115mA
115k
13k
18.7k
100mA
93.1k
9.09k
20k
Table 3. LED Array Options at 140mA Setting
(nc = no change)
2 Strings
# of LEDs
R19
R3
R5
R6
6
432k
80m
24.9k
43.2k
7
499k
90m
28.7k
26.7k
8
nc
70m
30.1k
23.2k
6
432k
nc
28k
43.2k
7
499k
nc
24.3k
nc
8
nc
nc
20k
nc
9
634k
nc
19.1k
30.1k
6
432k
nc
19.1k
43.2k
7
499k
nc
16.9k
nc
9
634k
40m
14.3k
nc
3 Strings
4 Strings
6
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Typical Evaluation Board Performance
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6
Typical Evaluation Board Performance
Unless otherwise specified, the following conditions apply: Vin = 12V, Ta = 25°C, LED array = 4 parallel
strings of 8 LEDs at 140mA per string. LED part number: Nichia NFSW036BT.
700:1
VA
10V/Div
MAX CONTRAST RATIO
600:1
500:1
SS/SH
1V/Div
400:1
300:1
ILED
50 mA/Div
200:1
VIN
10V/Div
100:1
0
1 ms/DIV
0
200
400
600
800
1000 1200
DIMMING FREQUENCY (Hz)
Figure 3. Maximum Contrast Ratio vs. Dimming
Frequency
Figure 4. Power-On Startup Waveforms
100
VC1
2V/Div
EFFICIENCY (%)
90
DLY
1V/Div
Iout
500 mA/Div
80
70
60
50
400 Ps/DIV
8
10
12
14
16
18
INPUT VOLTAGE (V)
Figure 5. Fault Delay Waveforms
(one LED open)
Figure 6. Efficiency vs. Input Voltage
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Typical Evaluation Board Performance
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VA
500 mV/Div
VA
500 mV/Div
ILED
5 mA/Div
VC1
2V/Div
VC1
1V/Div
SW
10V/Div
ILED
50 mA/Div
4 Ps/DIV
Figure 7. Typical Dimming Waveforms
(1kHz at 1% duty)
8
AN-1764 LM3431 Evaluation Board
1 Ps/DIV
Figure 8. Boost Switching Waveforms
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PCB Layout
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7
PCB Layout
Figure 9. Top Side PCB Layout
Figure 10. Bottom Side PCB Layout
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