RGB-LED driver supports animated automotive lighting

Melexis has expanded its lighting IC family with the introduction of the MLX81117 multi-channel RGB-LED driver. The MLX8117 supports the MeLiBu high-speed communication license-free IP, which supports intelligent animated automotive lighting for enhanced safety features. The MLX81117 offers better color-mixing accuracy with a delta UV of <0.01, compared to the previous product.

(Image: Melexis)

Car manufacturers are adopting animated lighting in the cabin to provide information such as driver-assistance prompts, vehicle status updates or advanced comfort functions like adaptive roof light and are increasingly using RGB-LED lightbars to communicate with the driver through color-coded, color-changing, and blinking sequences, said Melexis. This results in challenges around maintaining consistent color across all of the LEDs in the lightbar and implementing simultaneous light changes, said the company.

By integrating the Melexis MeLiBu high-speed communication interface IP in the MLX8117, the MeLiBu controls individual LEDs to implement the lighting effects. It offers high resolution to mitigate temperature-related color drift, and enables the real-time update of >250 RGB LEDs without delay.

“The intelligent RGB-LED controller also provides real-time compensation of any color drift caused by environmental changes, and color-mixing accuracy with a delta UV of <0.01% to eliminate any distinguishable differences between LEDs,” said Melexis.

MLX81117 block diagram (Image: Melexis)

The MeLiBu communication interface uses a CAN-FD physical layer for performance at up to 2 Mbit speeds. Other features include brightness control across a wide dimming range, which allows adjustments for natural light levels. The MLX81117 RGB-LED driver complies with ISO 26262 functional safety requirements up to safety integrity level B (ASIL B) and delivers low EMI and high levels of immunity to help meet EMC regulations.

The MLX8117 is housed in a 32-pin, QFN32 5 × 5 package. Samples are available now. An evaluation kit is available on request.