How to achieve a 300:1 dimming ratio with the DS3881/DS3882 CCFL controllers

The DS3881 and DS3882 are controllers for cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) that backlight LCDs in automotive, industrial, and avionic applications. These design systems often require a wide dimming ratio. An example is in automotive applications where the LCD panel must be easily readable in bright sunshine and dark tunnels. The DS3881 and DS3882 allow the user to create a CCFL inverter with a dimming ratio of 300:1 or greater.

This application note describes how CCFL lamps can be dimmed and how a user can maximize the dimming ratio of a CCFL inverter by using the DS3881 and DS3882 CCFL controllers. The note offers guidelines for practical implementations in automotive, industrial, and avionic applications.

View the PDF document for more information.