ON Semiconductor has expanded its portfolio of Constant Current Regulators (CCRs) to include the NSI50350A. This robust device is designed to provide a thermally efficient alternative to passive/discrete components or driver integrated circuit (IC) solutions for current regulation of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The device is ideal for a variety of 1W lighting applications including automotive, architectural lighting and signage.

The NSI50350A CCR incorporates Self-Biased Transistor (SBT) technology and regulates current over a wide voltage range. It is designed with a built-in LED driver and has a negative temperature coefficient to protect LEDs from thermal runaway at extreme voltages and currents. The 350 milliamp (mA) ± 10% steady state regulation current (Ireg) is dedicated for driving 1W LEDs; for applications requiring 2W LEDs, two of the NSI50350A CCRs can be placed in parallel.

The device has an operating temperature range of −55 °C to +175 °C. The regulator requires no external components allowing it to be designed as either a high or low-side regulator. The high anode-cathode voltage (Vak) rating of 50V maximum enables the device to withstand voltage surges that are common in automotive, industrial and commercial signage applications.

The device turns on immediately and is at 20 percent of full regulation with only 0.5V Vak applied. The NSI50350A is offered in both DPAK-4 (NSI50350AD) or SMC (NSI50350AS) industry standard packages and are capable of dissipating 11W and 5.8W respectively.

Both devices are qualified to automotive AEC-101 standard and are UL94-V0 certified. The NSI50350AD is priced at $0.16 per unit and the NSI50350AS is priced at $0.12 per unit in 10,000 unit quantities.