NXP Semiconductors announces the UBA2211 non-dimmable CFL driver ICs for 230V and 110V fluorescent lamps based on GreenChip technology (Hall A4-542). The IC offers an integrated CFL driver along with a current controlled preheat function, enabling more compact fluorescent lamp designs, highly efficient power conversion, and extended CFL lifetimes in the range of 12,000 to 15,000 hours, claims the company.As incandescent lamps are phased out around the world and 75W incandescent bulbs are banned, CFLs offer better quality of light at lower costs. The CFL driver ICs comply with the specifications for higher quality in non-dimmable CFLs, such as better light, longer lifetime, smaller form factor and faster ignition. The high-voltage monolithic ICs drive CFL in half-bridge configurations. The family is designed to provide easy integration of lamp loads across a range of burner power and mains voltages. It integrates the adjustable current controlled preheat mode technology, a key requirement in the EU directive, which enables the preheat time to be set and facilitates in achieving extended lifetime of the CFLs. There is the UBA2211 generic controller for 230V or 110V markets to drive external power switches, the UBA2211A, 230V model for CFL lamp power up to 11W, the UBA2211B, also 230V for CFL lamp power up to 18W and the 230V UBA2211C for CFL lamp power up to 23W.
