STMicroelectronics’ One-Chip Electronic Ballast For Fluorescent Lamps Shines Brighter Using Less

STMicroelectronics' One-Chip Electronic Ballast For Fluorescent Lamps Shines Brighter Using Less Power

STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), a leader in offering complete lighting solutions, today introduced a single chip (Combo IC) which integrates a Power Factor Corrector (PFC) with a half-bridge controller and all the relevant drivers and logic for an electronic ballast IC for fluorescent lamps. Combining these functions on a single IC allows ST’s new L6585 to generate more light from less energy, while ensuring full compliance with safety and power consumption regulations.

The L6585 one-chip solution, in fact, is the first on the market to enable EOL (End-of-Life) detection in either “lamp-to-ground” or “block capacitor-to-ground” ballast configurations. For the first time, manufacturers can choose how to design their application to simplify board qualification and easily pass ballast security tests.

Unlike previous solutions that require a Combo IC and several external components to feature EOL detection and the specific protections required by the new types of fluorescent lamps, the L6585 ensures all these necessary functions, thus eliminating the need for external circuits, drastically reducing design time and complexity, dramatically lowering costs, and increasing reliability.