Himax white LED drivers for netbook/notebook apps

TAINAN, TAIWAN: Himax Technologies Inc. announced that its white LED (Light-Emitting Diode) driver, the HA7305, has been approved by TFT-LCD panel makers for use in netbook and notebook applications and is expected to commence mass production at around the end of third quarter 2009.

HA7305 is ideally for netbook and notebook panels with LED-backlighting. LED has merits of lower power consumption, low environmental impact and further enables small form factor electronic products. Recently, the continuous cost-down of white LEDs has triggered the fast adoption of LED backlights in numerous mid- to large-sized panel applications.

According to Topology Research Institute, it is estimated that around 60 percent of netbooks and notebooks shipped worldwide in 2009 are adopting white LEDs as backlights. Furthermore, white LEDs are expected to replace CCFLs (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps) completely in netbook and notebook applications in the next two years.

Himax's white LED drivers were developed by Himax Analogic, Inc., a Himax subsidiary focusing on analog semiconductor solutions. The HA7305 is a white LED driver with 4.5V to 24V input voltage range and up to 44V output voltage; it drives up to 80 LEDs at 90 percent efficiency.

The built-in LED balance control circuitry offers stable and uniform current in and between channels with less than 3 percent inaccuracy. Moreover, the HA7305 embeds patented PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) dimming control technology and protection features including over voltage, over current, over temperature and under voltage lockout protections.

Following the previously launched white LED drivers for smaller panels, HA7305 presents a milestone for Himax's white LED driver line to penetrate into larger panels, namely netbook and notebook applications. Looking forward, Himax expects to launch an integrated white LED driver with power management function at around the end of 2009, and will continue to expend its white LED driver offerings suitable for monitor and TV applications.

Jordan Wu, President and CEO of Himax, commented: "Himax offers display related semiconductor solutions to meet customers' different needs. With Himax's worldwide leadership in LCD drivers and broad customer base, we believe white LED drivers will become one of Himax's major non-driver products in the future."