PCA9685_2
NXP B.V. 2009. All rights reserved.
Product data sheet
Rev. 02 — 16 July 2009
28 of 50
NXP Semiconductors
PCA9685
16-channel, 12-bit PWM Fm+ I2C-bus LED controller
7.7 Using the PCA9685 with and without external drivers
The PCA9685 LED output drivers are 5.5 V only tolerant and can sink up to 25 mA at 5 V.
If the device needs to drive LEDs to a higher voltage and/or higher current, use of an
external driver is required.
INVRT bit (MODE2 register) can be used to keep the LED PWM control rmware the
same independently of the type of external driver. This bit allows LED output polarity
inversion/non-inversion only when OE=0.
OUTDRV bit (MODE2 register) allows minimizing the amount of external components
required to control the external driver (N-type or P-type device).
[1]
When OE = 1, LED output state is controlled only by OUTNE[1:0] bits (MODE2 register).
[2]
Correct conguration when LEDs directly connected to the LEDn outputs (connection to VDD through current limiting resistor).
[3]
Optimum conguration when external N-type (NPN, NMOS) driver used.
[4]
Optimum conguration when external P-type (PNP, PMOS) driver used.
Table 11.
Use of INVRT and OUTDRV based on connection to the LEDn outputs when OE=0[1] INVRT OUTDRV Direct connection to LEDn
External N-type driver
External P-type driver
Firmware
External
pull-up
resistor
Firmware
External
pull-up
resistor
Firmware
External
pull-up
resistor
0
formulas and LED
output state values
inverted
LED current
formulas and LED
output state
values inverted
required
formulas and LED
output state values
apply
required
0
1
formulas and LED
output state values
inverted
LED current
formulas and LED
output state
not
formulas and LED
output state values
inverted
not required
1
0
formulas and LED
output state values
LED current
limiting R
formulas and LED
output state
values apply
required
formulas and LED
output state values
inverted
required
1
formulas and LED
output state values
LED current
limiting R
formulas and LED
output state
values inverted
not required formulas and LED
output state values
not
INVRT = 0
OUTDRV = 1
INVRT = 1
OUTDRV = 1
INVRT = 1
OUTDRV = 0
Fig 13. External N-type driver
Fig 14. External P-type driver
Fig 15. Direct LED connection
LED0
+5 V
002aad169
LED0
+5 V
002aad170
LED0
+VDD
002aad171