A Low-EMI, High-Reliability PWM-Based Dual-Phase LED Driver for Automotive Lighting

Abstract

Light-emitting diode (LED) drivers for automotive lighting applications adopt pulsewidth modulation (PWM) vis-a-vis pulse frequency modulation because its ensuing electromagnetic interference (EMI) spectrum is predictable and easily mitigated. Nevertheless, present-day PWM control schemes adopted in LED drivers suffer from imprecise output current and subharmonic oscillation, which compromises reliability. In this paper, we present a PWM-based LED driver that features low EMI and high reliability. These attributes are achieved by our proposed average current control (ACC), proposed accuracy-enhanced on-chip current sensors, and our adoption of a dual-phase power stage. The ACC eliminates subharmonic oscillation by means of considering the complete inductor current profile vis-a-vis peak current adopted elsewhere. Also by means of the dual-phase power stage, good current balance and small current ripple are obtained. Collectively, the aforesaid substantially improves the reliability. To improve electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), the proposed accuracy-enhanced on-chip current sensors are monolithically realized with the ACC and power transistors—to the best of our knowledge, the first for a PWM-based dual-phase LED driver. The prototype LED driver, realized in a 130-nm BCDLite process, has an input voltage range of 5–16 V, output to drive 1–3 series-connected LEDs, provides a current regulation accuracy of at least 96.2%, dimming frequency up to 20 kHz, features a peak power efficiency of 94.7%, settling time of $5~\mu \text{s}$ , LED current range of 0.4–2.4 A, and current ripple factor of 8%. When benchmarked against the state-of-the-art LED drivers, our design features the highest peak power efficiency, the shortest settling time, highest current driving capability, and the lowest current ripple factor.