Linear constantcurrent drivers, for instance, offer low EMI, low cost, and use only a few components. Many designers favor them for low-current applications where power loss is a minor concern. If ...

Another important concern is the balance of currents that flow in multiple strings. We know that two or three strings of LEDs will have different combined forward voltages. The LED driver will deliver ...

White LEDs used in backlighting provide illumination for the pixels in liquid crystal displays. The LEDs are typically routed on one or two sides of the displays light diffuser, and biased with 20 mA ...

Driver circuits are available in a variety of topologies. These include series (switch-mode) drivers, and parallel (non-inductor) drivers. How LEDs are driven depends on the level of efficiency ...

Targeting white LED applications, the AQ9156 switched-capacitor regulator provides a regulated 4.5V output at up to 120 mA and can drive up to six parallel LEDs. Typical input voltage ranges from 3V ...

This article was taken from the November 2012 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by ...