Rated at 600 V, the IRS2980 is the first in a family of high-voltage LEDrivIR ICs from International Rectifier. The high-voltage, buck regulator control IC is for non-isolated LED driver applications such as LED light bulb replacement and LED tube lighting in gaming machines, which use flashing lights, and in runway lighting. It operates at up to 375V continuous, which is sufficient for 220 to 340V peak operation. It uses hysteretic average current mode control for current regulation and has low-side MOSFET drive with high-voltage internal regulator and high-side current sensing. Peter Green, IR's LED group manager, explained that, unlike passive LEDs which are driven in a long string, a buck regulator in the base of a bulb maintains the constant current to drive the LEDs. Another advantage is that if one of the LEDs in a string fails, the whole string fails. The converter is compatible with electronic PWM dimming, allowing for 0 to 100% current control and enabling analogue or digital voltage-controller input. The IC is packaged in an SO-8 and uses the company's high-voltage IC process with high voltage level shifting and termination technology for over-stress protection.
