Evaluation Boards - LED Drivers

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
IS32LT3171-STLA3-EB ISSI (Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc.)	EVAL BOARD FOR IS32LT3171	0
DEMOBCR60260VICTRLTOBO1 IR (Infineon Technologies)	DEMO_BCR602_60V_ICTRL	11
AP8801EV1 Zetex Semiconductors (Diodes Inc.)	EVAL BOARD FOR AP8801	0
DC871A-C Analog Devices, Inc.	BOARD EVAL FOR LTC3215EDD	2
ADM00767 Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	CL88020 LED LOAD BOARD	5
MAX20077EVKIT# Maxim Integrated	36V 2.5A BUCK CONVERTER WITH 6A	222
NCL30000LED1GEVB	EVAL BOARD FOR NCL30000	0
PAM2841EV1 Zetex Semiconductors (Diodes Inc.)	EVAL BOARD FOR PAM2841	0
TPS62260LED-338 Texas Instruments	EVAL MOD FOR TPS62260/40/90	3
MAX16836EVKIT+ Maxim Integrated	KIT EVAL FOR MAZ16832 LED DRIVER	113
STEVAL-LLL008V1 STMicroelectronics	HVLED001B HVLED002 SPSGRFC BOARD	8
SSL5031BDB1207UL NXP Semiconductors	DEMO BD SSL5031 LED DVR 120V 9W	3
PAM2805EV1 Zetex Semiconductors (Diodes Inc.)	EVAL BOARD FOR PAM2805	8
DC841A Analog Devices, Inc.	BOARD DEMO FOR LT3477EFE	1
TPS92510EVM-011 Texas Instruments	EVAL MODULE FOR TPS92510	2
BOOST-LP5569EVM Texas Instruments	EVAL BOARD FOR LP5569	10
REFXDPL8221U100WTOBO1 IR (Infineon Technologies)	XDPL8221 100W CC/CV/LP DUAL STAG	6
ZXLD1370/1EV4 Zetex Semiconductors (Diodes Inc.)	EVAL BOARD FOR ZXLD1370/ZXLD1371	1
STEVAL-ILL063V1 STMicroelectronics	EVAL BD 3A DVR LED5000 FLT BOOST	1
STEVAL-ILL085V1 STMicroelectronics	80 W PWM DIMMABLE SINGLE-STRING	1

Evaluation Boards - LED Drivers

1. Overview

Evaluation Boards for LED Drivers are specialized hardware platforms designed to test, validate, and develop lighting control systems. These boards provide engineers with a controlled environment to assess driver performance, thermal management, and compatibility with various LED configurations. As solid-state lighting dominates modern applications, these evaluation tools accelerate innovation in energy efficiency, smart lighting, and dynamic color control across industries.

2. Major Types & Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
Constant Current Drivers	Maintain stable output current regardless of voltage fluctuations	High-brightness LED streetlights, industrial lighting
Constant Voltage Drivers	Provide fixed voltage with variable current control	LED strips, automotive interior lighting
PWM Dimming Controllers	Use pulse-width modulation for precise brightness control	Architectural lighting, display backlighting
Digital Addressable Controllers	Support protocols like DALI, DMX512 for individual LED control	Smart building systems, stage lighting

3. Structure & Composition

Typical evaluation boards integrate:

PCB substrate with thermal vias for heat dissipation
LED array interfaces (commonly 1 N or matrix configurations)
Driver ICs with protection circuits (overvoltage, overtemperature)
Power management modules (AC/DC, DC/DC converters)
Communication interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART)
Onboard sensors for light output measurement
Debugging headers (JTAG, SWD) for firmware development

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Importance
Output Current Range (mA)	Determines LED brightness capability
Voltage Compliance Range (V)	Affects compatibility with different LED strings
Dimming Resolution (bits)	Defines granularity of light control
Switching Frequency (kHz)	Influences EMI and efficiency
Thermal Shutdown Threshold ( C)	Ensures reliability under stress conditions
Communication Protocol Support	Enables system integration capabilities

5. Application Fields

Primary industries include:

General Lighting: Smart home systems, commercial lighting
Automotive: Adaptive front-lighting systems, interior ambiance
Industrial: Machine vision systems, hazardous area lighting
Consumer Electronics: TV backlighting, gaming peripherals
Medical: Surgical lighting, phototherapy devices

6. Leading Manufacturers & Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Features
TI (Texas Instruments)	LM3466EVM	Constant current driver with thermal fold-back
STMicroelectronics	STEVAL-ILL011V1	Digital dimming with 16-bit resolution
ON Semiconductor	NCL30160LEDGEVB	PWM dimming down to 0.1%
Microchip	CL88EVB	High-voltage AC/DC conversion
NXP Semiconductors	PCA9901BDB	DALI protocol support

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:

Match output specifications to target LED requirements
Verify dimming method compatibility (PWM vs analog)
Assess communication protocol needs (e.g., Bluetooth mesh)
Evaluate thermal management capabilities
Check software ecosystem maturity
Consider cost vs feature balance

8. Industry Trends

Future development focuses on:

Higher integration with MCU and wireless SoC solutions
Adaptive control using AI/ML algorithms
Advancements in GaN/SiC semiconductor integration
Expansion of IoT-enabled lighting systems
Standardization of energy efficiency regulations (e.g., DOE)