Power Integrations, a manufacturer of highly efficient and durable off-line LED driver ICs, has unveiled DER-323. This new offering is a reference design for a LNK460VG-based 18W, non-isolated A19 LED driver which is 88% efficient.
The design is ideal for a 100 W incandescent bulb replacement and has been specifically built for low-line (90 VAC to 135 VAC) operation. The circuit is affordable and just needs a single-sided board along with 25 components. It does not require potting; a low-cost inductor substitutes the transformer.
DER-323 uses a simple buck-boost converter topology that can be well-adapted within the A19 bulb. The design features a high power factor of over 0.98, and is EN61000-3-2 (C) compliant. It also meets other commercial and consumer compliance requirements. As LinkSwitch-PL ICs integrate PFC as well as CC converter functions within a single-stage topology, it does not require any electrolytic bulk capacitor, contributing to prolonged operation.
According to the product marketing manager at Power Integrations, Andrew Smith, the lighting industry requires 80% efficiency for drivers focused on 60 W A19 bulb replacements. Minimization of heat dissipated by the driver as well as attaining viable LED-based replacements for 75 W and 100 W bulbs require improved efficiency, which is being met by the DER-323 that has 88% efficiency. The thermal design of the bulb makes it cost-effective. DER-323 is compact, convenient and can be easily designed using its low component count, low-cost inductor and single-stage architecture.