Infineon introduces the LITIX™ Basic LED driver series with high reliability

Infineon Technologies introduces the LITIX™ Basic series of LED drivers for low - and medium-power automotive exterior lighting applications. This highly integrated family of LED drivers reduces system complexity and improves the reliability of steering, taillight, parking and reverse LED lights. With fewer parts and more functionality than vertical designs, the LITIX Basic series enables automakers to expand the use of brand-specific LED light systems with enhanced safety features.

The LITIX Basic series provides precise current control over a wide voltage range. The series includes 15 pin-compatible 1-3 output channel linear current sources rated from 60 to 180mA. In addition to stable and reliable LED brightness, the LITIX Basic series includes versions that support advanced diagnostic functions directly at the point of LED load. This enables car manufacturers to achieve the highest lighting quality.

Reduce system complexity

Today, the vast majority of LED taillight designs still use discrete resistors to control LED lighting. In addition to the higher cost of the system, this also increases the complexity of the system, in addition, due to the high number of discrete components and reduced reliability of LED taillights, automotive parts manufacturers occasionally have to deal with welding defects. With LITIX Basic, the number of PCB components can be reduced by approximately 40%, which in turn reduces the risk of failure and saves costs during the design and assembly phases.

Pin-compatible and extensible

With the introduction of the LITIX Basic series certified for the automotive industry, Infineon becomes the first semiconductor supplier to offer a portfolio of 15 scalable LED drivers in the same package. This enables the product family to easily modify the design to suit new LED configurations when requirements change, such as output current or fault detection requirements. In addition, by paralleling multiple LITIX Basic LED drivers, a single device load current up to 180mA can be easily achieved. All components in the LITIX Basic family feature overload and overtemperature protection, as well as a wide range of supply voltages from 5.5V to 40V.

For devices with integrated diagnostics, SC(short circuit), OL(open load), or N-1 (inter-device diagnostic bus) functions can be selected for LED fault detection. LITIX Basic drivers are suitable for both centralized and decentralized diagnostics. Centralized diagnosis means that fault diagnosis is controlled by a centralized body control module, while decentralized diagnosis enables real-time fault detection. In a distributed architecture, the LITIX Basic LED driver communicates with a microcontroller, which can be installed inside the taillight or in an additional module near it.

Whether centralized or decentralized, the LITIX Basic LED driver features ensure rapid identification of fault lights for quick repair. This not only satisfies safety features and legal requirements, but also helps to maintain the appearance of the car designed by the automobile manufacturer to present the quality image of the automobile brand. The LITIX Basic LED driver also has PWM(pulse width modulation) function, which can help easily realize the dual use of one light, such as parking light and taillight function in one.

Andreas Doll, Vice President and General Manager, Automotive Body Power Products, Infineon Technologies AG, said: "LITIX Basic LED Driver series is an important milestone for us to grasp the automotive LED market opportunity. This promising market is poised for double-digit growth in the coming years. The advantages of the LITIX system have been recognized by numerous automobile manufacturers around the world."