Infineon BCR191: Low-Drop Linear LED Driver for General Lighting Applications

The Infineon BCR191 is a highly efficient linear constant current regulator (CCR) designed specifically for driving LEDs in general lighting applications. As a member of Infineon’s broad LED driver portfolio, this device stands out for its low dropout voltage, high accuracy, and exceptional simplicity, making it an ideal choice for cost-sensitive and space-constrained designs.

Operating as a two-terminal device, the BCR191 functions similarly to a self-biased transistor, requiring no external control components. It regulates a constant current by automatically adjusting its internal resistance, ensuring a stable current flow through one or several series-connected LEDs. This simplicity drastically reduces the bill of materials (BOM) and simplifies PCB layout compared to switching regulator-based solutions.

A key advantage of the BCR191 is its very low minimum operating voltage. With a dropout voltage as low as 40 mV at 20 mA, it can operate effectively even when the supply voltage is only marginally higher than the combined forward voltage of the LED string. This low-drop characteristic is crucial for applications powered directly from a rectified AC mains or a DC bus, as it maximizes efficiency by minimizing wasted power as heat.

The device offers excellent line and load regulation, maintaining a consistent brightness across a wide input voltage range and over temperature variations. It is available in a compact SOT-23-6 package, which is suitable for automated assembly processes and helps achieve high-density lighting designs. Typical applications include LED bulbs, tubes, and modules, where reliability, component count, and cost are critical factors.

ICGOOODFIND: The Infineon BCR191 is a robust and elegantly simple solution for AC/DC or DC/DC LED driving. Its combination of a low dropout voltage, high accuracy, and two-terminal operation makes it a superior choice for designers seeking to optimize performance and cost in general lighting systems.

Keywords:

Low-Dropout Voltage, Constant Current Regulator, General Lighting, High Efficiency, Linear LED Driver