Evaluation Boards - LED Drivers

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
LM3466MREVAL/NOPB Texas Instruments	BOARD EVAL FOR LM3466MR	3
LM3423BBLSCSEV/NOPB Texas Instruments	BOARD EVAL BUCK BOOST LM3423	1
EVB_RT4531WSC Richtek	EVAL MODULE FOR RT4531WSC	0
AS1111C-DF_EK_ST ams	EVALUATION KIT AS1111C MLPD	0
LM3697EVM Texas Instruments	EVAL MODULE FOR LM3697	4
LV52205MUGEVB Sanyo Semiconductor/ON Semiconductor	EVAL BOARD LV52205MUG	0
AP8802EV2 Zetex Semiconductors (Diodes Inc.)	EVAL BOARD FOR AP8802	0
STEVAL-ILL045V1 STMicroelectronics	BOARD DEMO NON-ISOL HVLED815PF	1
XRP7613EVB MaxLinear	BOARD EVAL FOR XRP7613	5
LM3554TMEEV/NOPB Texas Instruments	BOARD EVAL FOR LM3554T	3
DC1315A Analog Devices, Inc.	EVAL BOARD LED DRIVER LT3475-1	1
LM3445-EDSNEV/NOPB Texas Instruments	BOARD EVAL LED DRIVER LM3445	2
TPS92410EVM-002 Texas Instruments	EVAL MODULE FOR TPS92410	2
TPS61176EVM-566 Texas Instruments	EVAL BOARD LED DRIVER TPS61176	1
STEVAL-POEL45W1 STMicroelectronics	LED AND GENERAL LIGHTING SOLUTIO	4
AS1119-WK_DK_ST ams	BOARD DEMO FOR AS1119	1
TLC6C5712EVM Texas Instruments	EVAL MODULE TLC6C5712	2
TPS92512EVM-001 Texas Instruments	IC LED DRIVER RGLTR DIM	3
DEMOBCR60160VIVCTRLTOBO1 IR (Infineon Technologies)	DEMO_BCR601_60V_IVCTRL	8
CPC9909-EVAL Wickmann / Littelfuse	BOARD EVAL FOR CPC9909	0

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)