Evaluation Boards - LED Drivers

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MAX20050EVKIT# Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT MAX20050 LED DVR	17
MAX6970EVKIT+ Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT MAX6970 (8-PORT, 36V CO	10
MAX16823EVKIT+ Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT FOR MAX16823	7
MAX8790AEVKIT+ Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT FOR MAX8790A	0
MAX16814EVKIT+ Maxim Integrated	KIT EAL FOR MAX16814	0
MAX16841EVKIT# Maxim Integrated	EVAL BOARD LED DRIVER	0
MAX17129EVKIT+ Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT FOR MAX17129	0
MAX17127EVKIT+ Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT FOR MAX17127	0
MAX6974EVKIT+ Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT MAX6974	0
MAX16814QEVKIT# Maxim Integrated	EVALUATION KIT FOR MAX16814ATP/V	0
MAX1561EVKIT Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT MAX1561 (HIGH-EFFICIENC	0
MAX16838EVKIT+ Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT MAX16838 (INTEGRATED, 2	0
MAX1574EVKIT Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT MAX1574 (180MA, 1X/2X,	0
MAX77387EVKIT# Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT FOR MAX77387	0
MAX16841EVKIT+ Maxim Integrated	WIDE INPUT OFFLINE LED DRIVER	0
MAX8834YEVKIT+ Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT MAX8834Y (ADAPTIVE STEP	0
MAX20053EVKIT# Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT MAX20053	0
MAX6972EVKIT Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT MAX6972 TIMING	0
MAX16803EVKIT+BJT Maxim Integrated	EVAL KIT FOR MAX16803	0
MAXMR16DEMO1# Maxim Integrated	EVAL DEMO KIT MAX16840	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)