The A80804 linear LED driver provides high power for automotive lighting applications through multiple independently configurable channels. Both products help designers reduce the number of integrated circuits needed to create safer automotive lighting systems, enabling higher performance and more compact designs at a lower system cost.

Vehicle lighting plays a critical role in the safety of drivers and passengers. According to a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), driving at night is three times riskier than driving during the day, and collision rates for vehicles with headlights rated "good" by the IIHS are nearly 20% lower than those with a "poor" rating. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and lighting upgrades that improve nighttime visibility of the road and the vehicle can significantly improve driver reaction times, helping to prevent collisions and save lives.

The A80803 is a constant-current, switching-mode driver for high-power automotive LED lighting applications that solves many common headlight designer problems. Its innovative features make it easy for designers to incorporate advanced functions into conventional vehicles. The single-ended, multi-topology driver design, combined with a wide input/output voltage capability, provides a universal solution for a variety of use cases and/or LED counts. Options for SPI-based control or EEPROM-based end-of-line programming for standalone operation further expand the range of possibilities.

The A80804 is Allegro's first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. Beyond dedicated applications like daytime running lights (DRLs) and brake/stop lights, it offers lighting designers greater design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and stage-style transitions. No switching elements or inductors are required, and the A80804's low EMI allows it to meet CISPR25 Class 5 standards. It also offers multiple analog and PWM dimming methods, dual-brightness mode operation, and is configurable without a microcontroller.

“Today’s high-end and luxury cars boast comfort and safety features that take years to arrive in less expensive, mainstream vehicles, primarily due to the cost of the solutions,” says Mark Gaboriault, Director of the lighting and controllers product line at Allegro. “The A80803 offers headlight designers a compact and cost-effective solution that automatically manages the electric transition from low to high beams, eliminating the need for multiple LED drivers and local microcontrollers. This unique offering will help democratize headlight design and enhance driver safety. Today’s consumers also expect an engaging and personalized driving experience. With the A80804, lighting designers now have a cost-effective way to enable animations and other lighting effects in a way that simplifies the design process while improving visibility and driver safety, and minimizing material costs.”

Features and Benefits

The A80803 includes market-first features that help simplify headlight design and increase driver safety:
- Multi-topology high/low beam switching, eliminating the need for a second LED driver integrated circuit.
- A unique transition control function that minimizes LED overcurrent and undercurrent during the transition between high and low beams
- Two configuration options, including factory-programmed EEPROM to eliminate the need for a local microcontroller, and an SPI interface for control and status registers enabling software control
- Extensive diagnostics for ASIL capability, with two programmable fault pins and reporting via SPI
- Multiple methods for adjusting/controlling analog LEDs for base intensity, recoil for thermal conditions via NTC, or using a single design with different LED "bins"
- Multiple methods for LED PWM control via an internal PWM signal (standalone mode) or an external PWM signal for direct PWM control on the EN/PWM pin (MCU mode)

The features of the A80804 help lighting designers simplify system design and increase safety:

- Linear control via four channels, each with an independent enable/PWM input
- Multiple methods for PWM control of LEDs via an internal PWM signal (standalone mode), including automatic phase shift, or an external PWM signal for direct control on the EN/PWM pin (MCU mode)
- Ability to switch between low and full intensity for applications such as stop/brake or DRL/position lighting, without the need for a local microcontroller
- Selectable LED current transition speed control to adjust PWM limit timings, improving EMI performance
- Multiple methods for analog LED adjustment/control, LED binning or wrapping, NTC foldback, or hybrid dimming
- Integrated/optional power reduction for high Vin and/or temperature
- Exclusive "MINOUT" function that can significantly reduce power losses by dynamically adjusting to changes in the LED's Vf based on temperature
- Comprehensive protections to safeguard the device and the LEDs, communicated via the fault pin
- Possibility of connecting several devices in parallel to expand the number of strings

Price and Availability
The A80803 is available in a thermally enhanced 5 mm × 5 mm 32-pin QFN package with a wettable flank. The A80804 is available in a 5 mm × 5 mm 32-pin QFN package with a wettable flank.

More information about the A80803 and A80804