Beginning of this page
Jump to main content

Please note that JavaScript and style sheet are used in this website,
Due to unadaptability of the style sheet with the browser used in your computer, pages may not look as original.
Even in such a case, however, the contents can be used safely.

The following page content corresponds to the products formerly marketed by NEC Electronics

Applications >

Lighting Control Solutions

Today's lighting applications, from fluorescent light systems to emerging high-powered LED lighting systems, require highly efficient, intelligent control solutions at a competitive cost. To meet these needs, NEC Electronics America offers a mix of products with various levels of integration for multiple topologies.

LED topologies

For direct AC designs with single-channel LEDs with dimming control and communication

When used in LED lighting system with AC power source, one of the K0/Ix2 16-bit PWM timers (40MHz) with linked op-amp, comparators and ADCs can be used for power factor correction (PFC). The second 16-bit PWM timer (40MHz) can be used to drive a string of LEDS (Topology 1). Because the peripherals are specialized, it frees the MCU to control light quality and handle communication function, such as DALI

For designs with dedicated power subsystems, multi-channel LEDs, dimming control, sequencing, programmable tinting and mood control


In system with dedicated power supply, the K0/Ix2 16-bit PWM timers can be used to drive three strings of LEDs (Topology 2), making color mixing and color temperature adjustment possible. For systems that adjust color and color temperature with 4 channels of LEDs, HCD/LED MCUs (uPD78F8024/25), which have dedicated 4-ch constant current driver (CCD), are good fit. The high-current CCD can operate at high switching frequency and high voltage giving it the flexibility to perform in either boost or buck mode. With dedicated hardware, these MCUs are free from monitoring and controlling constant current for the LEDs and can perform a variety of lighting functions such as dimming, thermal management, color tuning and communication.