STMicroelectronics introduced a single chip (Combo IC) which integrates a Power Factor Corrector (PFC) with a half-bridge controller and all drivers and logic for an electronic ballast IC for fluorescent lamps. The L6585 one-chip solution, does enable EOL (End-of-Life) detection in either "lamp-to-ground" or "block capacitor-to-ground" ballast configurations. The IC offers independently programmable pre-heating and ignition duration as well as the half-bridge frequencies for each operating phase. As a result, this one IC can serve different lamp types.

The Combo IC enables protection on both the PFC and Half-Bridge sections of the device. In addition to the capability of limiting the voltage applied to the lamp and controlling current levels during the ignition and run-mode phase, the L6585 increases ballast reliability by avoiding the capacitive mode in the half-bridge section through the over-current protection. Other benefits are the detection of over-voltage and feedback disconnection on the PFC, which stops the IC to avoid ballast damage, and the linear multiplier. Lamp management is simplified by the automatic re-lamp feature, which allows operators to replace lamps without needing to power off all the other lamps.

Offered in the SO20 ECOPACK package, the L6585 costs $1.4 in 10,000 unit quantities. Samples of the Combo IC are available now and volume production is scheduled for January 2007.