Omron's new W2RG012RN, designed for LED arrays in signaling, backlighting, and other applications, can control the brightness of up to
128 LEDs individually with a single IC. Its key feature is brightness control using PWM, which increases brightness gradually and exponentially as the light intensity increases. Since the human eye is more sensitive to dim light, this creates the impression of a completely gradual and uniform brightness variation, without any perceptible steps or flicker. Conventional luminance control is achieved in uniform steps that appear uneven to the eye due to their variable brightness response.
Omron's new integrated circuit (IC) for LED control communicates via a serial bus connection, allowing up to 15 ICs to be connected on the same communication line. The 24 constant current outputs supply a maximum current of 80mA per pin. They can be configured for 16x8, 24x4, 24x2, or 24x1 LED matrices. The brightness of each LED can be increased with smaller matrices. The device measures only 7mm x 7mm and features thermal shutdown.
