First 12-bit, 29-kHz RGB LED driver family enables vivid color and seamless animation with zero audible noise

Texas Instruments LP5018 LP5024 LP5030 LP5036

New LED drivers from TI help designers reduce power consumption and improve total system efficiency in human-machine interface applications

Texas Instruments (TI) introduced a new family of LED drivers with integrated, independent color mixing, brightness control and a power-saving mode. The LP5018, LP5024, LP5030 and LP5036 enable smooth, vivid color and reduce system power consumption.

Texas Instruments - LP5018, LP5024, LP5030, LP5036

The devices are the industry's first to offer a 29-kHz dimming frequency, above human-audible range, to help designers of applications that use a human-machine interface, such as portable electronics, building automation and appliances, eliminate the noise typically heard when dimming lights. Additionally, designers can achieve smoother color and brightness-level adjustments compared to standard pulse-width modulation (PWM) solutions, by taking advantage of the devices' integrated 12-bit PWM generator.

The LP5036 Functional Block Diagram
The LP5036 Functional Block Diagram.

Key features and benefits of the LP5018, LP5024, LP5030 and LP5036 LED drivers

  • High-resolution PWM dimming:
    The devices in TI's LP50xx family integrate a 12-bit PWM generator that operates above a human-audible frequency, at 29 kHz per channel, enabling smooth, vivid color with zero audible noise.
     
  • Ultra-low quiescent current:
    An integrated power-saving mode dramatically reduces power consumption to as low as 0.01 mA from the typical 9 mA offered in existing devices, improving total system efficiency in standby mode.
     
  • Multichannel options:
    18-, 24-, 30- and 36-channel options provide independent color mixing and brightness control, while three integrated, programmable banks enable simplified software coding and ease of design.

Tools and support to speed design

Designers can download LP50xx graphical user interface software to easily configure the LP5018, LP5024, LP5030 and LP5036 LED drivers. Engineers can jump-start their designs with the LP5024EVM and LP5036EVM evaluation modules.

LP5036 36-Channel 12-Bit PWM Ultralow Quiescent Current I2C RGB LED Driver Evaluation Module (LP5036EVM)
LP5036 36-Channel 12-Bit PWM Ultralow Quiescent Current
I2C RGB LED Driver Evaluation Module (LP5036EVM).

See how to implement sophisticated lighting patterns for end equipments with a constant voltage supply using the "Various LED Ring Lighting Patterns" reference design. The design utilizes two LP5024 LED drivers to dynamically adjust brightness without impacting contrast ratios in ambient lighting situations.

TIDA-050011 Various LED ring lighting patterns reference design board image
TIDA-050011 Various LED ring lighting patterns reference design.

Package, availability and pricing

The LP5018 and LP5024 LED drivers are available now in the TI store. Additionally, preproduction samples of the LP5030 and LP5036 are available now in the TI store. The table below lists pricing and package type.

Product Channels Package type Price (1,000-unit quantities)
LP5018 18 4-mm-by-4-mm QFN $0.73
LP5024 24 4-mm-by-4-mm QFN $0.82
LP5030 30 5-mm-by-6-mm QFN $0.97
LP5036 36 5-mm-by-6-mm QFN $1.08

These new LED drivers with integrated PWM join TI's extensive LED driver integrated circuit (IC) product portfolio, design tools, and technical resources that can help electronics designers add innovative lighting features to their systems.