SP4424DS/16
SP4424 Electroluminescent Lamp Driver
3
Copyright 2000 Sipex Corporation
PIN DESCRIPTION
THEORY OF OPERATION
The
SP4424
is made up of four basic circuit
elements: two precision oscillators, a coil, and the
EL driver IC. The oscillators set the coil and lamp
frequencies independently. This allows for the
selective setting of the coil / lamp frequency ratio.
The coil frequency can be selected for maximum
energy transfer per cycle for a given coil value.
The coil oscillator is designed to operate at 75%
duty cycle and the lamp oscillator is designed for
50% DC, for minimum DC offset across the EL
lamp.
An external capacitor connected between pin 8
and V
allows the user to vary the lamp oscillator
frequency from approximately 75Hz (4700 pf) to
350Hz (450 pf). Likewise, an external capacitor
connected between pin 1 and V
allows the user
to vary the coil oscillator frequency from
approximately 5kHz (390 pf) to 50kHz (22 pf).
The graphs on
page 7
show the relationship between
oscillators (L
and C
OSC
) and their respective
capacitor values.
The coil is an external component connected from
V
to pin 3 of the
SP4424
. Energy is stored
in the coil according to the equation E
=1/2LI
2
,
where I is the peak current flowing in the inductor.
The current in the inductor is time dependent and
is set by the "ON" time of the coil switch: I=(V
L
/
L)t
, where V
is the voltage across the inductor.
At the moment the switch closes, the current in the
inductor is zero and the entire supply voltage
(minus the V
of the switch) is across the inductor.
The current in the inductor will then ramp up at a
Pin 1 – C
- Connect Capacitor from V
SS
to
pin 1 to set coil frequency.
Pin 2 – V
SS
- Power supply common, connect to
ground.
Pin 3 – Coil- Coil input, connect coil from
V
BATTERY
to pin 3.
Pin 4 – EL1- Lamp driver output 1, connect to
EL lamp.
Pin 5 – EL2- Lamp driver output 2, connect to
EL lamp.
Pin 6 – V
DD
- Power supply for driver, connect to
system V
DD
.
Pin 7 – HON- Enable for driver operation,
high = active; low = inactive.
Pin 8 – C
- connect Capacitor from V
SS
to
pin 8 to set lamp frequency.
1
2
3
4
8
7
6
5
S
SP4424 Typical Application
HON=V
=ON
HON=0V=OFF
0.1
μ
F Low ESR
Decoupling
Capacitor
EL Lamp
3Ftl
1.6 sq.in.
4.5nF
C
LAMP
HON
V
DD
EL2
C
COIL
V
SS
Coil
EL1
220pF
SP4424
V
IN
=3V
5
+
–
1500pF