PCA9955B
16-channel Fm+ I2C-bus 57 mA/20 V constant current LED
driver
Rev. 2.2 — 10 June 2020
Product data sheet
1. General description
The PCA9955B is an I2C-bus controlled 16-channel constant current LED driver optimized
for dimming and blinking 57 mA Red/Green/Blue/Amber (RGBA) LEDs in amusement
products. Each LED output has its own 8-bit resolution (256 steps) fixed frequency
individual PWM controller that operates at 31.25 kHz with a duty cycle that is adjustable
from 0 % to 100 % to allow the LED to be set to a specific brightness value. An additional
8-bit resolution (256 steps) group PWM controller has both a fixed frequency of 122 Hz
and an adjustable frequency between 15 Hz to every 16.8 seconds with a duty cycle that
is adjustable from 0 % to 99.6 % that is used to either dim or blink all LEDs with the same
value.
Each LED output can be off, on (no PWM control), set at its individual PWM controller
value or at both individual and group PWM controller values. The PCA9955B operates
with a supply voltage range of 3 V to 5.5 V and the constant current sink LED outputs
allow up to 20 V for the LED supply. The output peak current is adjustable with an 8-bit
linear DAC from 225 A to 57 mA.
Gradation control for all current sources is achieved via the I2C-bus serial interface and
allows user to ramp current automatically without MCU intervention. 8-bit DACs are
available to adjust brightness levels for each LED current source. There are four
selectable gradation control groups and each group has independently four registers to
control ramp-up and ramp-down rate, step time, hold ON/OFF time and final hold ON
output current. Two gradation operation modes are available for each group, one is single
shot mode (output pattern once) and the other is continuous mode (output pattern repeat).
Each channel can be set to either gradation mode or normal mode and assigned to any
one of these four gradation control groups.
This device has built-in open, short load and overtemperature detection circuitry. The error
information from the corresponding register can be read via the I2C-bus. Additionally, a
thermal shutdown feature protects the device when internal junction temperature exceeds
the limit allowed for the process.
The PCA9955B device has a Fast-mode Plus (Fm+) I2C-bus interface. Fm+ devices offer
higher frequency (up to 1 MHz) or more densely populated bus operation (up to 4000 pF).
The active LOW output enable input pin (OE) blinks all the LED outputs and can be used
to externally PWM the outputs, which is useful when multiple devices need to be dimmed
or blinked together without using software control.
Software programmable LED Group and three Sub Call I2C-bus addresses allow all or
defined groups of PCA9955B devices to respond to a common I2C-bus address, allowing
for example, all red LEDs to be turned on or off at the same time or marquee chasing
effect, thus minimizing I2C-bus commands. On power-up, PCA9955B has a unique