PCA9958
24-channel SPI serial bus 63 mA/5.5 V constant current LED driver
Rev. 1.0 — 31 January 2024
Product data sheet
1 General description
PCA9958 is a daisy-chain SPI-compatible 4-wire serial bus controlled 24-channel constant current LED driver
optimized for dimming and blinking 63 mA Red/Green/Blue/Amber (RGBA) LEDs.
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 once 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. PCA9958 operates with a supply voltage range of 2.7 V to 5.5 V and the
constant current sink LED outputs allow up to 5 V for the LED supply. The output peak current is adjustable with
an 8-bit linear DAC from 250 µA to 63.75 mA with REXT = 1 kΩ.
Gradation control for all current sources is achieved via the 4-wire serial bus 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 six selectable gradation control groups and each group has four independent
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: single shot mode (output pattern once) and
continuous mode (output pattern repeat). Each channel can be set to either gradation mode or normal mode
and assigned to any one of these six 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 4-wire serial bus. Additionally, a thermal shutdown feature protects
the device when internal junction temperature exceeds the limit allowed for the process.
PCA9958 device is designed to use 4-wire read/write serial bus with higher data clock frequency (up to 10
MHz).
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.
2 Features and benefits
• 24 LED drivers. Each output programmable at:
– Off
– On
– 8 bits programmable LED brightness
– 8 bits programmable group dimming/blinking mixed with individual LED brightness
– Programmable LED output delay to reduce EMI and surge currents
• Gradation control for all channels
– Each channel can be assigned to one of six gradation control groups
– Programmable gradation time and rate for ramp-up and/or ramp-down operations
– Programmable step time (6-bit) from 0.5 ms (minimum) to 512 ms (maximum)