
Micrel Inc.
Application Information
LED Current
MIC4802
Ultra Fast PWM? Dimming Interface
The MIC4802 supports a wide range of PWM control
signal frequencies from 200Hz to 500kHz. This
extremely wide range of control provides ultimate
flexibility for handheld applications using high frequency
PWM control signals.
WLED dimming is achieved by applying a pulse width
modulated (PWM) signal to the END pin. For PWM
frequencies between 200Hz – 10kHz the MIC4802
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
vs. PWM Duty Cycle
f PWM = 20kHz
f PWM = 100kHz
f PWM = 200kHz
supports a duty cycle range from 1% to 100%, as shown
in Figure 3. The MIC4802 incorporates an internal
shutdown delay to ensure that the internal control
circuitry remains active during PWM dimming. This
feature prevents the possibility of backlight flickering
100
0
0
20
f PWM = 500kHz
40 60 80
DUTY CYCLE (%)
100
when using low frequency PWM control signals. The
MIC4802 also supports Ultra Fast PWM? frequencies
from 20kHz to 500kHz. Due to input signal propagation
Figure 4. Channel Current Response to PWM Control
Signal Frequencies from 50kHz to 500kHz
delay, PWM frequencies above 20kHz have a non-linear
relationship between the duty cycle and the average
LED current, as shown in Figure 4 and 5. Figures 6
through 9 show the WLED current response when a
PWM signal is applied to the END pin (1) .
35
30
Minimum Duty Cycle
vs. Frequency
(1)
From the low I Q sleep mode higher PWM frequencies above 15kHz
25
require a logic high enable signal for 60 μ s to first enable the MIC4802
prior to PWM dimming .
LED Current
vs. PWM Duty Cycle
900
20
15
10
5
0
800
700
VIN = 5V
f PWM = 1kHz
100
1000 10000 100000
FREQUENCY (Hz)
1000000
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
f PWM = 5kHz
f PWM = 10kHz
Figure 5. Minimum Duty Cycle
for Varying PWM Frequency
0
20
40
60
80
100
DUTY CYCLE (%)
Figure 3. Average Current per LED Dimming
by Changing PWM Duty Cycle for PWM Frequencies
up to 20kHz
Figure 6. PWM Signal at 1% Duty Cycle (I avg = 8mA)
January 2011
8
M9999-013111-B