NSC LM3549

National Semiconductor
Application Note 2062
Anssi Raisanen
August 6, 2010
General Description
device. The evaluation board has a microcontroller that acts
as an USB to I2C interface. Microcontroller is also used to
manipulate the digital control signals of the LM3549. LM3549
evaluation board can be powered from the USB interface or
from external power supply. If evaluation board is used to
measure the electrical parameters of the LM3549 or used with
high output currents external powersupply needs to be used.
If evalution board is used to check the functionality of the
LM3549 with small output currents or to support software development it can be powered directly from USB interface. This
document describes how to get the LM3549 evaluation board
up and running and how to use evaluation software.
The LM3549 is a high power LED driver with up to 700mA
output current. It has three constant current LED drivers and
a buck boost SMPS for driving RGB LEDs with high efficiency.
LED drivers are designed for sequential drive so only one
driver can be enabled at a time.
LED driver output current settings can be stored to integrated
non-volatile memory which allows stand-alone operation without I2C interface. Non-volatile memory is rewritable so current
setting can be changed if needed.
LM3549 has a fault detection feature that can detect several
different fault conditions. In case of a fault error flags are set
and FAULT output sends interrupt to control logic. Error flags
can be read through I2C interface.
Total brightness can be controlled with PWM input or with
master fader register if I2C interface is used.
LM3549 Evaluation board is designed to help getting familiarized with the LM3549. It can be used to measure key
parameters of the LM3549 and to speed up design in of the
LM3549 Evaluation Kit
LM3549 Evaluation Kit
What Is Needed
To get started you will need:
• LM3549 evaluation board
• LM3549 evaluation software (LM3549.exe)
• USB Cable
• PC with one free USB port
30125042
FIGURE 1.
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Hardware Set-up
30125025
FIGURE 2. LM3549 Evaluation Board setup
The LM3549 evaluation kit is based on a one board system,
where the USB communication and evaluation related components are assembled onto one board. (See Figure 2). The
evaluation board was designed especially for evaluation and
therefore is not optimized for the smallest layout size. The
components are physically large to make changing component values easier.
LM3549 input voltage VDD can be supplied from the USB port
or by connecting an external power supply to the X1 connector. If voltage is supplied from USB port shunt needs to be
placed on the VDD position of P2 pin rail. If external power
supply is used this shunt needs to be removed. USB port's
maximum output current is 500mA. This is not enough to drive
the LEDs with maximum output current but can be used to
test functionality of the LM3549.
Figure 2 shows how to setup the LM3549 evaluation board.
This configuration uses onboard microcontroller to control the
LM3549’s logic inputs. If one wishes to use external source
to drive the control signals, control signal jumpers needs to
be removed and external control signals needs to be connected to the right side of the P2 pin rail. Control signals are
labeled for easy connection.
I2C interface pull-up resistors are placed on the microcontroller side of the control signal jumpers. If external I2C interface is connected to the board it needs to have pull-up
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resistors. LM3549 I2C ID is 36h (in 7bit format) -> write = 6Ch
(8-bit format) and read = 6Dh (8-bit format)
The onboard microcontroller has USB interface to communicate with PC. Connect evaluation board to PC with USB
cable. Evaluation software is used to control LM3549’s logic
inputs and to use the I2C interface. Evaluation software setup
and use are described in the following chapters.
LM3549 evaluation board has three high current LEDs. These
LED's are very bright even with minimum current setting.
Never look straight into the LEDs. This can damage your
eyes!It is good practice to always cover the LEDs with something to avoid looking straight into them.
CONNECTOR LISTING
• J1 - USB connector. Use this to connect the LM3549 to
your PC.
• VIO - selector for digital logic levels. There should be a
shunt in 3.3V position.
• X1- power supply connector. VDD terminal can be used to
supply LM3549 input voltage from external power supply.
VIOX terminal can be used to connect external voltage for
the digital signals.
• Connector for microcontroller programming is used to
program the on-board microcontroller. This has no user
functions and needs to always be unconnected.
2
•
•
2.
P2 - P2 pin rail is used to connect on-board microcontroller
to LM3549 digital lines. If user want to connect LM3549 to
his/her own system shunts can be removed and user
system can be connected to right side pins of the P2 pin
rail.
J3, J4 and J5 - LED disconnecting jumpers. These can be
used to disconnect the LEDs from LM3549 LED outputs.
This can be used to test the fault detection or to measure
LED currents.
P1 - Connector for VOUT and LED outputs. This can be
used to connect external LEDs to the LM3549 evaluation
board.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Connecting the Evaluation Board to
a Computer
1.
7.
Check that the jumpers on the evaluation board are on
wanted positions.
Connect external power supply to the evaluation board
or, if evaluation board is to be powered form USB port,
set shunt to VDD position of the P2 pin rail.
Connect the USB board to your computer using a USB
cable
Start the evaluation software LM3549.exe
Evaluation software may prompt you to update firmware
of the LM3549 evaluation board. If it does click ok and
wait until update is completed.
Status bar at the center of the bottom row should say
"OK" on green background. This indicates that I2C
interface between microcontroller and LM3549 is
working correctly.
The evaluation kit is now fully up and running and the
device can be controlled through the PC software. Figure
3 shows the evaluation software user interface (Control
Panel).
30125001
FIGURE 3. LM3549 Evaluation Software Control Panel
You should see USB OK message on the status bar (shown
in the lower part of the window). If the USB communication is
not working correctly, shut down the evaluation software and
unplug the USB cable. Plug in the USB cable again and wait
about 5 seconds and restart the evaluation software. You can
also try toggling the Enable button few times.
3
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•
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LM3549 is working correctly. If there are any error messages
on red background something is wrong with the I2C interface.
In this case check the control signal jumpers and verify that
proper VDD voltage is applied to the board.
The evaluation software provides read-write control over the
registers within the LM3549. Bits can be set from a logical '1'
to a logical '0' or vice versa by a mouse click and for some
settings there is a slider control.
Controlling the Evaluation Board
Evaluation software doesn’t need installation and can be run
by double clicking the icon. If evaluation board is set up correctly evaluation software’s user interface should look like in
Figure 3. When software starts up it sets Enable control to “1”
and reads the control register values. Status bar at the center
of the bottom row should say OK on green background. This
indicates that I2C interface between microcontroller and
30125019
FIGURE 4. I2C Log View
Figure 4 shows the I2C Log tab of the evaluation software. All
I2C write commands will be logged and can be seen on I2C
Log tab. User can copy/paste write commands into his/her
own application if needed.
ReadAll button doesn't update external pin buttons. Button
WriteAll stores values of buttons and track bars to LM3549.
Note that specific register will be updated immediately when
clicking/dragging on its control buttons or track bar if Auto
Write checkbox is checked. I2C communication status after
register read or write command are shown on status bar (at
bottom of window).
I2C COMMUNICATION
LM3549 registers 00h-16h and 19h – 1Ah are read/write accessible using controls (buttons and track bars where available) on System tab of the software window. Register 17h
(Fault register) is read only register. Button ReadAll reads all
register values of the LM3549 and updates register map related buttons and track bars according to results. Note that
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DIRECT ACCESS TO REGISTERS
Controls on the frame Direct Access allows user to read/write
from/to the chip registers manually. Enter the register address
to the Addr field and choose the binary value by clicking on
4
clicking on one of the R_EN, G_EN, B_EN button will disable
sequence generation automatically.
PWM generation can be enabled by dragging PWM track bar
on bottom of the window. PWM frequency is about 7.6kHz.
EEPROM PROGRAMMING
Desired default register values can be stored to EEPROM.
These values are always read back to registers when Enable
button is set from low to high. Keep the Enable button on and
set all x_EN buttons off and uncheck Enable sequence box.
Write suitable values to all user registers. Set VDD to 5.0V
and click on the Store User Registers to EEPROM button. Set
the Enable button off and back to on. Read all registers by
pressing the ReadAll button and verify that the values match
with the stored values.
CONTROL SIGNALS
Buttons Enable, R_EN, G_EN, B_EN and PWM are used to
manipulate input pins of the LM3549. Button Fault Status is
used to read status of FAULT pin. Pin value appears to value
bar beside the button.
Setting Enable button high puts LM3549 to standby mode.
I2C registers can be read and written in standby mode but
buck-boost converter and LED drivers are off. Setting Enable
button low sets LM3549 to shutdown mode.
When device is on the standby mode LEDs can be turned on
one at the time by clicking R_EN, G_EN or B_EN. Even if two
or more buttons are turned high at the same time, only the
LED that was set high first will be on.
Generation of special sequence of R, G and B signals can be
enabled/disabled by checking/unchecking Enable sequence
checkbox. Period of the sequence is about 60 Hz and is similar to that described in the LM3549 Datasheet. Note that
FAULT LED
LED D4 is connected to LM3549's open drain fault output. If
LM3549 detects any fault conditions e.g. LED short or LED
open it pulls the fault output low and turns on the fault LED.
LM3549 has a fault register which indicates what fault has
occurred. Reading the fault register reset it's state and also
reset the fault output to high-z state. Different fault conditions
are described in the LM3549 datasheet.
5
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the Data bits 7...0 and write the selected value to the chip
register by clicking on the Store button. Note that after clicking
the Store button all the register values will be read back automatically. Disable the automatic read by unchecking Auto
Write checkbox. Enter register address to the Addr field and
click the Read button to read the specific register. Result will
be displayed in the Data field in binary format.
FIGURE 5. Schematic of the LM3549 Evaluation Board
30125023
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Schematic
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6
Designator
Value
Footprint
Comment
Description
Quantity
C1, C4
10 μF
0805
Capacitor
2
C2, C7
100 nF
0805
Capacitor
2
C3
4.7 μF
0805
Capacitor
1
C5
22 μF
1210
Capacitor
1
C6
4.7 μF
0603
Capacitor
D1
D2
1
Red LED
Osram Diamond
Dragon LED
1
Green LED
Osram Diamond
Dragon LED
1
Blue LED
Osram Diamond
Dragon LED
1
0603 LED
Red LED
Fault indicator LED 1
2125
Ferrite bead
LR W5AP
LT W5AP
D3
LD W5AP
D4
LS L296
D5
BAT760
FB1
BK2125HS101-T
L1
2.2 μH
R1
10 kΩ
0603
Resistor
1
R2, R3, R4, R5
1.5 kΩ
0603
Resistor
4
R6
330Ω
0603
Resistor
1
R7
0Ω
LM3549
0805
Resistor
1
U1
U2
C8051F326
QFN-28
Schotky diode
1
1
VLF4014ST-2r2M1R9 TDK SMD inductor 1
LLP24
1
Microcontroller
7
1
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Bill of Materials
LM3549 Evaluation Kit
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