February 1995
LM3909 LED Flasher/Oscillator
General Description
Features
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Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Operation over one year from one C size flashlight cell
The LM3909 is a monolithic oscillator specifically designed
to flash Light Emitting Diodes. By using the timing capacitor
for voltage boost, it delivers pulses of 2 or more volts to the
LED while operating on a supply of 1.5V or less. The circuit
is inherently self-starting, and requires addition of only a bat-
tery and capacitor to function as an LED flasher.
Bright, high current LED pulse
Minimum external parts
Low cost
Low voltage operation, from just over 1V to 5V
Low current drain, averages under 0.5 mA during
battery life
Packaged in an 8-lead plastic mini-DIP, the LM3909 will op-
erate over the extended consumer temperature range of
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Y
Powerful; as an oscillator directly drives an 8X speaker
Wide temperature range
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a
25 C to 70 C. It has been optimized for low power drain
§
§
and operation from weak batteries so that continuous oper-
ation life exceeds that expected from battery rating.
Applications
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Application is made simple by inclusion of internal timing
resistors and an internal LED current limit resistor. As
shown in the first two application circuits, the timing resis-
tors supplied are optimized for nominal flashing rates and
minimum power drain at 1.5V and 3V.
Finding flashlights in the dark, or locating boat mooring
floats
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Sales and advertising gimmicks
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Emergency locators, for instance on fire extinguishers
Y
Toys and novelties
Timing capacitors will generally be of the electrolytic type,
and a small 3V rated part will be suitable for any LED flasher
using a supply up to 6V. However, when picking flash rates,
it should be remembered that some electrolytics have very
Y
Electronic applications such as trigger and sawtooth
generators
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Siren for toy fire engine, (combined oscillator, speaker
driver)
b
broad capacitance tolerances, for example
a
20% to
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100%.
Warning indicators powered by 1.4V to 200V
Schematic Diagram
Connection Diagram
Typical 1.5V Flasher
Dual-In-Line Package
TL/H/7969–2
Top View
Order Number LM3909N
See NS Package Number N08E
TL/H/7969–1
C
1995 National Semiconductor Corporation
TL/H/7969
RRD-B30M115/Printed in U. S. A.