General Description
The MAX8831 integrates a 60mA, 28V PWM DC-DC
step-up converter with five low-dropout LED current
regulators for display and keypad backlighting in cell
phones, PDAs, and other portable devices. The IC pro-
vides up to 90% efficiency over the entire input voltage
range of 2.7V to 5.5V. The step-up converter operates
at a fixed 2MHz switching frequency, enabling the use
of very small external components to achieve a com-
pact circuit area. For improved efficiency, the step-up
converter automatically transitions to pulse-skipping
mode at light loads.
Each of the five current regulators accommodates up to
9 series LEDs (depending on LED string forward volt-
age), and is independently programmed using an I
2
C
interface. Two of the current regulators (LED1, LED2)
are intended to support display backlight functions and
are programmable up to 25mA using a 128-step loga-
rithmic dimming scheme. The other three regulators
(LED3, LED4, LED5) are suitable for keyboard backlight
functions or for driving signal indicators, and are pro-
grammable up to 5mA using a 32-step logarithmic dim-
ming scheme. The low-current regulators (LED3, LED4,
LED5) can be operated from the step-up converter or
from a separate low-voltage source.
The I
2
C interface controls all operational aspects of the
current regulators, including: on/off state, LED current,
ramp-up/ramp-down timers, and blink rate timers
(LED3, LED4, LED5). The MAX8831 write/read address-
es are factory programmed at 0x9A/0x9B (contact the
factory for other address options).
The MAX8831 features open/short LED fault detection,
output overvoltage protection, thermal shutdown, and
open-circuit Schottky diode detection, with the status of
each fault monitored continually for readback through
the I
2
C interface.
The MAX8831 is available in a tiny 2mm x 2mm, 16-bump
WLP package.
Applications
Cell Phones
PDAs
Smartphones
Features
o 28V Step-Up DC-DC Converter
Integrated NMOS Power Switch
> 90% Efficiency
Fixed 2MHz Switching
Pulse Skipping for Improved Light-Load
Efficiency
Tiny External Components
o I
2
C Programmable (0x9A Write/0x9B Read),
Compatible with 1.8V Logic
o Two 25mA Regulators for Display Backlighting
I
2
C-Programmable Output Current (50µA to
25.25mA)
128-Step Logarithmic Dimming
Individually Programmable Ramp (Up/Down)
Timers
Low Dropout (200mV max)
o Three 5mA Current Regulators for Keypad
Lighting
I
2
C-Programmable Output Current (50µA to
5.0mA)
32-Step Logarithmic Dimming
Individually Programmable Ramp (Up/Down)
Timers
Individual Blink Rate and Duty Cycle Timers
Low Dropout (150mV max)
o Open/Short LED and Open-Circuit Diode
Detection
o Thermal-Shutdown and Output Overvoltage
Protection
o Ultra-Low 0.1µA Shutdown Current
o Tiny 2mm x 2mm, 16-Bump WLP Package
MAX8831
High-Efficiency, White LED Step-Up Converter
with I
2
C Interface in 2mm x 2mm WLP
________________________________________________________________
Maxim Integrated Products
1
19-4370; Rev 1; 7/09
For pricing, delivery, and ordering information, please contact Maxim Direct at 1-888-629-4642,
or visit Maxim's website at www.maxim-ic.com.
EVALUATION KIT
AVAILABLE
Ordering Information