Implementing LED Drivers in Altera MAX Series
2017.06.07
AN-286
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Altera
®
MAX
®
II, MAX V, MAX 10, MAX 3000A, MAX 7000A, MAX 7000B, and MAX 7000S devices can
be used in this example application.
Discrete LED driver chips are common on many system boards. Supported Altera devices oer unique
capabilities that allow you to integrate single or multiple LED driver chips into a single device.
Related Information
• Design Example for MAX II
Provides the MAX II design les for this application note (AN 286).
• Design Example for MAX 10
Provides the MAX 10 design les for this application note (AN 286).
Commercial LED Driver Chips
Many LEDs, such as the seven-segment display, are common-anode LEDs. e LEDs anode connects to
V
CC
and each cathode connects to an output pin of the current-sinking LED driver chip. e driver chip
sinks the DC current required to drive the display, and the LED turns on when the driver chip's output
pins drive low. Current-regulating circuits are implemented inside the LED driver chips.
Current-sinking LED drivers are more common than current-sourcing drivers.
Table 1: Current-Sinking LED Driver Chips
Lists some common LED driver chips manufactured by Texas Instruments, National Semiconductor, and
Toshiba. e manufacturer datasheets provide additional information about LED driver chips.
LED Driver Chip Description
Texas Instruments
TLC5905 LED driver with shi registers, data latch, and constant current
circuitry
TLC5910 LED driver with shi registers, data latch, on-chip phase-locked loop
(PLL) for gray scale generation and constant current
TLC5911 LED driver with shi registers, data latch, on-chip PLL for gray scale
generation and constant current
TLC5921 LED driver with shi register, data latch, and current-sink constant
current circuitry
National Semiconductor
Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Altera, Arria, Cyclone, Enpirion, MAX, Nios, Quartus and Stratix words and logos are trademarks of
Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries. Intel warrants performance of its FPGA and semiconductor products to current
specications in accordance with Intel's standard warranty, but reserves the right to make changes to any products and services at any time without notice.
Intel assumes no responsibility or liability arising out of the application or use of any information, product, or service described herein except as expressly
agreed to in writing by Intel. Intel customers are advised to obtain the latest version of device specications before relying on any published information
and before placing orders for products or services.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
ISO
9001:2008
Registered
www.altera.com
101 Innovation Drive, San Jose, CA 95134
LED Driver Chip Description
DS8874 9-digit shi input LED driver
DS8863 MOS-to-LED 8-digit driver
DS8963 MOS-to-LED 8-digit driver
Toshiba
TB62701AN 16-bit constant current LED driver with shi register and latch
functions
TB62705 8-bit constant current LED driver with shi register and latch functions
TB62706 16-bit constant current LED driver with shi register and latch
functions
TB62707 8-bit constant current LED driver with latch functions
Implementing LED Drivers in Supported Altera Devices
When using a supported Altera device as an LED driver chip, place a current-limiting resistor between the
cathode side of the LEDs diode and the supported Altera device I/O. e LEDs anode is tied to V
CC
, and
is turned on when the device I/O drive low.
e most important aspect of an LED driver chip is the amount of current it has to sink. Many LED
applications call for a current sink specication of 5 to 15 mA. Because the supported Altera devices can
sink up to 50 mA per pin, these devices can directly integrate commercial current-sinking LED driver
chips.
Table 2: Maximum Sink Current for the Supported Altera Devices
Device Maximum Sink Current Per Pin (mA)
MAX II 25
(1)
MAX V 25
(1)
MAX 10 25
(1)
MAX 3000A 25
MAX 7000A/AE 25
MAX 7000B 50
MAX 7000S 25
Although a single pin from a MAX 7000B device can sink up to 50 mA of DC current, each GNDIO group
can concurrently sink up to 200 mA of current due to the support of advanced I/O standards.
(1)
25 mA is the absolute maximum rating for the sink current per pin in the MAX II, MAX V, and MAX 10
devices. Device operation at the absolute maximum ratings for extended periods of time may have adverse
eects on the device.
2
Implementing LED Drivers in Supported Altera Devices
AN-286
2017.06.07
Altera Corporation
Implementing LED Drivers in Altera MAX Series
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