MAX25510

• Demonstrates Robustness the MAX25510, MAX25511, and MAX25512
• Wide 3V to 36V Input Operating Range (Up to 40V Load Dump)
• Powers High-Brightness (HB) LEDs (Up to Four Strings) for Medium-to-Large-Sized LCD Displays in Automotive and Display Backlight Applications
• 400kHz to 2.2MHz Resistor-Programmable Switching Frequency with Spread-Spectrum Option
• Phase-Shift Dimming Option
• Demonstrates Cycle-by-Cycle Current Limit and Thermal-Shutdown Features
• Demonstrates Wide Dimming Ratio
• Demonstrates Hybrid Dimming for Better EMI and Acoustic Performance and Higher Dimming Ratio
• Demonstrates Fade In/Out for Smooth Brightness Transition
• Designed to Show Thermal Foldback Function
• I²C Programmability (MAX25512 only)
• Dedicated GUI
• Proven PCB and Thermal Design
• Fully Assembled and Tested

The MAX25512 evaluation kit (EV kit) demonstrates the MAX25512 integrated 4-channel high-brightness LED driver with I²C interface for automotive displays, and its stand-alone mode counterparts, namely the MAX25510 and MAX25511. The EV kit operates from a DC supply voltage between 3V and 36V, and the switching frequency can be either set at 2.2MHz or at 400kHz. The EV kit can be configured to operate in stand-alone mode or in I²C mode. Spread-spectrum mode (SSM) is enabled by default for electromagnetic interference (EMI) improvement, but it can be disabled either by acting on a register bit (MAX25512) or by properly choosing the resistor to be connected to the SET pin (MAX25510 and MAX25511).

The EV kit demonstrates phase-shifted pulse-widthmodulation (PWM) dimming. Dimming can be performed either externally using a PWM signal applied to the DIM PCB pad or internally by programming the desired dimming frequency and individual duty cycle through I²C (MAX25512 only). The hybrid dimming feature can be enabled through a register bit to reduce EMI (MAX25512 only). The EV kit features a LED current foldback option either as a function of the temperature, by means of a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) sensor (not provided), or through analog dimming. I²C-programmable (MAX25512) or resistor-programmable (MAX25510 and MAX25511) automatic fading functionality is also available.

Finally, the EV kit demonstrates short-LED, open-LED, LED short to ground, boost output short to ground/undervoltage and overvoltage, and overtemperature-fault protection. For operation at switching frequencies other than 2.2MHz or 400kHz, the external components should be chosen according to the calculations in the IC data sheet.

The EV kit provides an I²C interface that can operate in conjunction with the MINIQUSB+* adapter board or a thirdparty I²C master. The EV kit also includes Windows^®- compatible software that provides a simple graphical user interface (GUI) for exercising the features of the IC (MAX25512 only).

Note: The MAX25512 EV kit schematic and bill of materials (BOM) show only the MAX25512 (MAX25512ATG/V+) as U2, but there are no other differences if the MAX25512 is replaced by the MAX25510 (MAX25510ATGA/V+) or MAX25511 (MAX25511ATGA/V+).

*Note: To be ordered separately.

Applications

• Automotive Central Information Displays
• Automotive Head-Up Displays
• Automotive Instrument Clusters