ON Semiconductor
Is Now
To learn more about onsemi™, please visit our website at
www.onsemi.com
onsemi and and other names, marks, and brands are registered and/or common law trademarks of Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC dba “onsemi” or its affiliates and/or
subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. onsemi owns the rights to a number of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other intellectual property. A listing of onsemi
product/patent coverage may be accessed at www.onsemi.com/site/pdf/Patent-Marking.pdf. onsemi reserves the right to make changes at any time to any products or information herein, without
notice. The information herein is provided “as-is” and onsemi makes no warranty, representation or guarantee regarding the accuracy of the information, product features, availability, functionality,
or suitability of its products for any particular purpose, nor does onsemi assume any liability arising out of the application or use of any product or circuit, and specifically disclaims any and all
liability, including without limitation special, consequential or incidental damages. Buyer is responsible for its products and applications using onsemi products, including compliance with all laws,
regulations and safety requirements or standards, regardless of any support or applications information provided by onsemi. “Typical” parameters which may be provided in onsemi data sheets and/
or specifications can and do vary in different applications and actual performance may vary over time. All operating parameters, including “Typicals” must be validated for each customer application
by customer’s technical experts. onsemi does not convey any license under any of its intellectual property rights nor the rights of others. onsemi products are not designed, intended, or authorized
for use as a critical component in life support systems or any FDA Class 3 medical devices or medical devices with a same or similar classification in a foreign jurisdiction or any devices intended for
implantation in the human body. Should Buyer purchase or use onsemi products for any such unintended or unauthorized application, Buyer shall indemnify and hold onsemi and its officers, employees,
subsidiaries, affiliates, and distributors harmless against all claims, costs, damages, and expenses, and reasonable attorney fees arising out of, directly or indirectly, any claim of personal injury or death
associated with such unintended or unauthorized use, even if such claim alleges that onsemi was negligent regarding the design or manufacture of the part. onsemi is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative
Action Employer. This literature is subject to all applicable copyright laws and is not for resale in any manner. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
AND8171/D
NCP1421/2 Reference
Designs for High−Power
White LED Flash
Applications
http://onsemi.com
Prepared by: Jim Hill
ON Semiconductor
APPLICATION NOTE
Abstract
profile, small sized inductor and output capacitor to be used.
Also an integrated disconnect switch provides “true cutoff”
by isolating the output from the battery during shutdown.
The NCP1421 comes in the 3x5 mm Micro−8 package, and
the NCP1422 comes in the 3x3 mm DFN package. Because
of these features the NCP1421/2 are well suited to provide
current regulation for biasing high current white LED’s in
portable flash applications. Figure 1 illustrates this circuit.
In summary the reference voltage is split between the
current sense resistor, R4, and a divided down voltage from
the white LED with resistors R2 and R3. This helps remove
some of the dependence of the NCP1421/2’s output voltage,
and thus current, on the LED’s forward voltage, VF. This
also helps prevent lot−to−lot VF variation affecting the LED
brightness.
Figure 1 shows a typical circuit which, with the Bill of
Materials shown in Table 1, can provide LED currents of 200,
600 and 800 mA. The 200 mA design uses the NCP1422
because of its smaller footprint, and the 600 mA and 800 mA
designs use the NCP1421 and NCP1422 respectively to
showcase the load current limits of each device.
The higher currents (600 and 800 mA) assume that the
LED will be pulsed and not run at steady state. 50 ms pulses
on the LBI/EN were used in the analysis of these circuits.
The NCP1421/2 takes 1.5 ms (nominal) to turn on after the
LBI/EN pin is driven high.
The attached design illustrates how the NCP1421/2 boost
converters can be configured as a current regulator for
biasing high current white LED’s. Typical boost converters,
such as these, have a reference voltage of 1.2 V. Since this
is a current sourcing application, the more straightforward
approach of directly sensing the boost converter’s reference
voltage (Vref), which is 1.2 V, across a sense resistor would
dissipate too much power at the currents required to drive
high−power White LED’s. Also, the lot−to−lot forward
voltage variation is too high to simply regulate at a fixed
voltage with a current limiting resistor. Therefore, this paper
describes a technique that reduces both the power loss in the
sense resistor and the lot−to−lot variation effect of the LED.
This applications shows two implementations of this
concept. Figure 1 shows a simple boost converter configured
at various current levels and uses the Lumileds LXHL−
WW06 white LED. Figure 5 shows a circuit that switches
between a low current for focus lighting and high current for
the flash and uses the Lumileds LXCL−PWF1 white LED.
Overview
The NCP1421 and NCP1422 are monolithic boost
converter IC’s uniquely suited to power higher current
portable applications (600 − 800 mA maximum). Their high
switching frequency (up to 1.2 MHz) allows for a low
C3
22 F
R2
NCP1422
D1
1 FB
VOUT 8
2 LBI/EN LX 7
R3
R1
100k
3 LBO
4 REF
L1
6.8 H
GND 6
BAT 5
C1
220 nF
U1
C2
22 F
VIN
R4
ON
OFF
50 ms Pulse
Figure 1. NCP1422 Configured to Drive High Current White LED
Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC, 2004
November, 2004 − Rev. 0
1
Publication Order Number:
AND8171/D
AND8171/D
100
1000
95
800 mA
700
600 mA
600
500
400
300
200 mA
200
85
600 mA
80
800 mA
75
70
65
60
100
0
3.0
200 mA
90
800
EFFICIENCY (%)
OUTPUT CURRENT (mA)
900
55
VF = 3.5 V @ 600 mA
3.2
3.4
3.6
3.8
4.0
VF = 3.5 V @ 600 mA
50
3.0
4.2
3.2
3.4
3.6
3.8
4.0
4.2
INPUT VOLTAGE (V)
INPUT VOLTAGE (V)
Figure 2. Output Current vs. Input Voltage
Figure 3. Converter Efficiency vs. Input Voltage
100
95
EFFICIENCY (%)
90
85
200 mA
80
75
600 mA
70
65
60
800 mA
55
50
3.0
VF = 3.5 V @ 600 mA
3.2
3.4
3.6
3.8
4.0
4.2
INPUT VOLTAGE (V)
Figure 4. Electrical to Optical Efficiency vs. Input Voltage
Design Steps
input voltage is assumed to be 3.6 V and has been optimized
around this point.
Step 10: Determine output voltage. Output voltage will be
VF + VR4 = 4.1 V One can use the 3.6 V as Vin chosen above
because this circuit decreases LED current as VF increases
from the designed value. This is shown by the following
equation: ID = 1/R4*(Vref − VF*(R3/R2 + R3)) Conversely
it increases current as VF decreases from the designed value,
but then the difference between Vin and Vout is less, so the
peak current is reduced.
Step 11: Use the NCP1421 or NCP1422 datasheet to
determine the appropriate L1, C1, and C2. For this
application, 6.8 H, 22 F, and 22 F were found to work well
over the load and line range.
Step 12: Determine the inductor saturation current. For
this circuit Vin min = 3 V: ILavg = Iout / (1−D) where D =
(1−Vin/Vout). Therefore ILavg = 600 mA/(1−(1−Vin/Vout)) =
840 mA
Step 13: Add 20% margin to this ILavg and pick an
inductor with an Isat > 1.0 A.
The following steps show how to determine the critical
components for this circuit. (R2, R3, R4, L1) This shows the
600 mA version as an example:
Step 1: Let LED current = ID = 600 mA
Step 2: From the LED datasheet, let VF = 3.5 V
(Find value of VF at 600 mA).
Step 3: Let R3 = 100 k
Step 4: Let VR4 = 0.5 * Vref which is 0.6 V. This places
equal dependence on VF variation and tolerance of the
reference and R4. One could increase the output voltage by
making the voltage across R4 (VR4) larger or decrease
power dissipation in R4 by lowering VR4.
Step 5: For ID = 600 mA and VR4 = 0.6 V, R4 = 1.0 .
Step 6: Now, VR4 plus the divided voltage off of the LED
must equal 1.2 V, and that is 0.6 V
Step 7: So, R2 = (VF/(Vref − VR4)) * R3 − R3 =
(3.5/0.6) * 100 k − 100 k = 483 k
Step 8: Then choose a standard value of R2 which is close
to the above calculated value. Choose R2 = 475 k.
Step 9: Pick input voltage range. These circuits assume a
one−cell Li−ion battery pack or a 3−cell NiMH pack so the
http://onsemi.com
2
AND8171/D
Finally, Figure 5 shows a Focus/Flash application where
the NCP1422 drives one LED at 200 and 600 mA. An
C3
22 F
external MOSFET changes the R4 resistance to vary the
LED current. 50 ms pulses were used for this design.
R2
NCP1422
1 FB
VOUT 8
2 LBI/EN LX 7
D1
R3
3 LBO
4 REF
R1
100k
C1
220 nF
R4a
L1
6.8 H
GND 6
BAT 5
U1
Enable
Signal
Q1
ON
OFF
R4b
50 ms Pulse
Figure 5. 200/600 mA Focus/Flash Application
VIN = 3.6 V
Figure 6. LED Current and Vin Ripple Voltage with 200/600 mA Focus/Flash Pulse
(CH2 = Vin, ac−coupled @ 50 mV/div; CH4 = ILED @ 200 mA/div)
http://onsemi.com
3
C2
22 F
VIN
AND8171/D
Table 1. Bill of Materials for Figure 1
Ref
Part Number
Description
PCB Footprint
Manufacturer
200 mA Design
U1
NCP1422MNR2
NCP1422 Boost Converter
D1
LXHL−WW06
White LED
DFN−10 (3 x 3 mm)
ON Semiconductor
L1
VLP5610T−6R8
6.8 H Inductor
(5.6 x 5.0 x 1.0 mm)
TDK
R1
CRCW0402104….
100 k
0402
Vishay
R2
CRCW04025603….
560 k
0402
Vishay
R3
CRCW04021503….
150 k
0402
Vishay
R4
DCRCW12062R70...
2.7
1206
Vishay
C1
C1608X5R1A224K
220 nF
0603
TDK
C2
C2012X5R0J226M
22 F / 6.3 V (X5R Ceramic)
0805
TDK
C3
C2012X5R0J226M
22 F / 6.3 V (X5R Ceramic)
0805
TDK
Micro−8 (3 x 5 mm)
ON Semiconductor
Lumileds
600 mA Design
U1
NCP1421DMR2
NCP1421 Boost Converter
D1
LXHL−WW06
White LED
Lumileds
L1
VLP6214T−6R8
6.8 H Inductor
(6.2 x 5.8 x 1.4 mm)
TDK / Coilcraft
R1
CRCW0402104….
100 k
0402
Vishay
R2
CRCW04025603….
475 k
0402
Vishay
R3
CRCW04021503….
100 k
0402
Vishay
R4
CRCW12061R00...
1.0
1206
Vishay
C1
C1608X5R1A224K
220 nF
0603
TDK
C2
C2012X5R0J226M
22 F / 6.3 V (X5R Ceramic)
0805
TDK
C3
C2012X5R0J226M
22 F / 6.3 V (X5R Ceramic)
0805
TDK
DFN−10 (3 x 3 mm)
ON Semiconductor
800 mA Design
U1
NCP1422DMR2
NCP1422 Boost Converter
D1
LXHL−WW06
White LED
Lumileds
L1
VLP6214T−6R8
6.8 H Inductor
(6.2 x 5.8 x 1.4 mm)
TDK
R1
CRCW0402104….
100 k
0402
Vishay
R2
CRCW04025603….
750 k
0402
Vishay
R3
CRCW04021503….
150 k
0402
Vishay
R4
CRCW12061R50...*
0.75
1206
Vishay
C1
C1608X5R1A224K
220 nF
0603
TDK
C2
C2012X5R0J226M
22 F / 6.3 V (X5R Ceramic)
0805
TDK
C3
C2012X5R0J226M
22 F / 6.3 V (X5R Ceramic)
0805
TDK
*2 − 1.5 resistors were used in parallel.
http://onsemi.com
4
AND8171/D
Table 2. Bill of Materials for Figure 5
200/600 mA Design
U1
NCP1422MNR2
NCP1422 Boost Converter
DFN−10 (3 x 3 mm)
ON Semiconductor
D1
LXCL−PWF1
White LED
(1.64 x 2.04 x 0.9 mm)
Lumileds
Q1
NTJS3157N
N−Channel MOSFET
SC−88
ON Semiconductor
L1
VLP5610−6R8
6.8 H Inductor
(5.6 x 5.0 x 1.0 mm)
TDK
R1
CRCW0402104….
100 k
0402
Vishay
R2
CRCW04025603….
475 k
0402
Vishay
R3
CRCW04021503….
100 k
0402
Vishay
R4a
CRCW12062R00...*
1.0
1206
Vishay
R4b
CRCW12062R00...
2.0
1206
Vishay
C1
C1608X5R1A224K
220 nF
0603
TDK
C2
C2012X5R0J226M
22 F / 6.3 V (X5R Ceramic)
0805
TDK
C3
C2012X5R0J226M
22 F / 6.3 V (X5R Ceramic)
0805
TDK
*2 − 2.0 resistors were used in parallel.
http://onsemi.com
5
AND8171/D
ON Semiconductor and
are registered trademarks of Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC (SCILLC). SCILLC reserves the right to make changes without further notice
to any products herein. SCILLC makes no warranty, representation or guarantee regarding the suitability of its products for any particular purpose, nor does SCILLC assume any liability
arising out of the application or use of any product or circuit, and specifically disclaims any and all liability, including without limitation special, consequential or incidental damages.
“Typical” parameters which may be provided in SCILLC data sheets and/or specifications can and do vary in different applications and actual performance may vary over time. All
operating parameters, including “Typicals” must be validated for each customer application by customer’s technical experts. SCILLC does not convey any license under its patent rights
nor the rights of others. SCILLC products are not designed, intended, or authorized for use as components in systems intended for surgical implant into the body, or other applications
intended to support or sustain life, or for any other application in which the failure of the SCILLC product could create a situation where personal injury or death may occur. Should
Buyer purchase or use SCILLC products for any such unintended or unauthorized application, Buyer shall indemnify and hold SCILLC and its officers, employees, subsidiaries, affiliates,
and distributors harmless against all claims, costs, damages, and expenses, and reasonable attorney fees arising out of, directly or indirectly, any claim of personal injury or death
associated with such unintended or unauthorized use, even if such claim alleges that SCILLC was negligent regarding the design or manufacture of the part. SCILLC is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. This literature is subject to all applicable copyright laws and is not for resale in any manner.
PUBLICATION ORDERING INFORMATION
LITERATURE FULFILLMENT:
Literature Distribution Center for ON Semiconductor
P.O. Box 61312, Phoenix, Arizona 85082−1312 USA
Phone: 480−829−7710 or 800−344−3860 Toll Free USA/Canada
Fax: 480−829−7709 or 800−344−3867 Toll Free USA/Canada
Email: orderlit@onsemi.com
N. American Technical Support: 800−282−9855 Toll Free
USA/Canada
ON Semiconductor Website: http://onsemi.com
Order Literature: http://www.onsemi.com/litorder
Japan: ON Semiconductor, Japan Customer Focus Center
2−9−1 Kamimeguro, Meguro−ku, Tokyo, Japan 153−0051
Phone: 81−3−5773−3850
http://onsemi.com
6
For additional information, please contact your
local Sales Representative.
AND8171/D