ELECTRONICS
AUTOMOTIVE AMBIENCE
Introducing a new smart LED driver IC for ambient lighting in passenger vehicles
W
ith enhancing the end-user experience becoming an ever more important focus for
automotive manufacturers, ambient LED lighting has become a key design feature. Well-known OEMs now utilise ambient lighting extensively across their latest models to provide striking visual distinction, and maintaining a reliable supply chain is paramount. LED driver manufacturer Melexis
has extended its LIN RGB family with a new third-generation smart LED driver IC, the MLX81123. Built on the success of its predecessor, the MLX81113, the controller is designed to deliver cost-effective performance and reliability in small package. “Ambient lighting has transitioned
from an aesthetic option in high-end vehicles to a fundamental automotive feature, providing a new landscape for customisation and visual differentiation,” says Michael Bender, Product Line Manager of Embedded Lighting at Melexis. “This creates additional demand for automotive LED controllers. Our second-generation LIN RGB IC controllers have seen incredible success. The third- generation MLX81123 takes existing strengths, miniaturises the solution and adds production capabilities. We deliver an unrivalled feature set at a price point that enables a roll-out across vehicle ranges from luxury to entry-level models.”
KEY FEATURES The new MLX81123 features a small outline integrated circuit (SOIC8) and a small DFN-8 3x3mm packaging to enable the use of light in any location of the car, whereas before there were limitations due to space constraints. Manufactured using cutting-edge silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology, the controller’s miniaturisation allows for an increased number of ICs per wafer, delivering not only one of the smallest RGB LIN IC controllers on the
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The MLX81123’s miniaturisation enables the use of light in any location within a vehicle
market but also a significant increase in production output volume – ready to fulfil the demands of the growing automotive ambient lighting market. With common software design and
pin-to-pin compatibility with the MLX81113, the MLX81123 can be easily integrated into existing designs, and replacement of current chips with the new controller is often possible without a full development cycle. The controller delivers RGB according to LIN 2.x and SAE J2602. For safety applications, it supports integration up to ASIL B under ISO 26262. The controller’s advanced 16-
bit microcontroller unit (MCU) is equipped with 2KB RAM, 32KB of application-usable flash, and a system ROM with a bootloader and LIN driver. A built-in 512 B EEPROM allows for effective configuration, such as LED calibration coefficients, which are needed to ensure uniform cabin brightness and colour representation. The MLX81123’s LIN system
includes a transceiver and protocol handler, which facilitate the seamless connection between RGB ambient modules and the pre-existing network of the vehicle. Featuring four high- voltage I/O with free configurable current sources up to 60mA, the controller can support RGB and white LEDs from a wide range
of suppliers, allowing for greater procurement flexibility. Meanwhile, the IC’s independent 16-bit PWM output provides precise colour and brightness control of any connected LEDs, meeting the demands of a variety of vehicle ambient applications such as door trim, accent, and interior cabin lights. In sleep mode, the MLX81123
exhibits a typical standby current consumption of just 25µA and features a 28V jump start, as well as battery monitoring with over and under-voltage detection. The operating temperature is a wide -40°C to 125°C with a built-in temperature sensor for thermal monitoring, ideal for even the most demanding automotive environments.
For further information visit:
www.melexis.com/MLX81123
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