CAT4238
DIMMING CONTROL
Filtered PWM Signal
There are several methods available to control the
LED brightness.
A filtered PWM signal used as a variable DC voltage
can control the LED current. Figure 2 shows the
PWM control circuitry connected to the CAT4238 FB
pin. The PWM signal has a voltage swing of 0V to
2.5V. The LED current can be dimmed within a range
from 0mA to 20mA. The PWM signal frequency can
vary from very low frequency up to 100kHz.
¯¯¯¯¯
PWM signal on the SHDN Pin
LED brightness dimming can be done by applying a
¯¯¯¯¯
PWM signal to the SHDN input. The LED current is
repetitively turned on and off, so that the average
current is proportional to the duty cycle. A 100% duty
¯¯¯¯¯
cycle, with SHDN always high, corresponds to the
LEDs at nominal current. Figure 1 shows a 1kHz
VIN
SW
¯¯¯¯¯
signal with a 50% duty cycle applied to the SHDN pin.
CAT4238
The recommended PWM frequency range is from
100Hz to 2kHz.
SHDN
GND
FB
VFB = 300mV
LED
3.73kΩ
3.1kΩ
1kΩ
25V
0V
PWN
Signal
Current
VIN
RA
RB
R2
i
C1
R
1
15Ω
0.22µF
Figure 2. Circuit for Filtered PWM Signal
A PWM signal at 0V DC, or a 0% duty cycle, results
in a max LED current of about 22mA. A PWM signal
with a 93% duty cycle or more, results in an LED
current of 0mA.
FILTERED PWM DIMMING [0V to 2.5V]
Figure 1. Switching Waveform
25
¯¯¯¯¯
with 1kHz PWM on SHDN
20
15
10
5
0
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
PWM DUTY CYCLE [%]
Doc. No. 5019 Rev. A
10
© 2006 Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.
Characteristics subject to change without notice