Cirrus Logic introduces digital controllers that are nearly 100%TRIAC dimmer compatible

Cirrus Logic has announced the launch of digital LED controllers, officially entering the emerging high-growth LED lighting market. The LED controller can directly solve the dimming compatibility problem, which is also a major barrier to consumer adoption of LED bulbs. The CS161X series controllers are powered by Cirrus Logic's new digital TruDim™ technology and have been proven to be nearly 100% compatible with many global dimmers. Cirrus Logic has already mass-produced CS161X controllers for a leading lighting company. Cirrus Logic expects to ship 5 million to 10 million LED controllers to multiple customers in 2012.

LED bulbs have excellent energy efficiency and long life, and are considered to be an alternative to incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps. The main barriers to mass adoption are higher costs and dimming compatibility issues, as with CFLS. Today's LED bulbs are primarily based on analog drivers, and none offer broad dimming compatibility for dimmers that consumers install in homes, retail stores, and businesses. Dimming incompatibilities, including light bulbs that flicker, flash, or can't be switched on and off, are the main reasons for the high return rate of products.

Jason Rhode, President and CEO of Cirrus Logic, said: "Several years ago, we identified the growing LED market as an area where we could leverage our signal processing expertise to solve meaningful engineering challenges. For today's consumers, buying LED bulbs can be a frustrating experience, because once you buy home, you find that most LED bulbs do not work. It turns out that solving the dimming compatibility challenge is extremely complex. We are very pleased that one of the world's largest LED lamp manufacturers has demonstrated the superior performance of our first LED controller, which is nearly perfectly compatible with every dimmer we can find and test around the world."

Datapoint Research estimates that the market for LED lamps in lighting applications will grow from about 200 million in 2011 to 1 billion in 2015. Jon Gamble, senior analyst at Datapoint Research, said: "Making LED bulbs compatible with all dimming systems currently in existence around the world is one of the biggest challenges for LED bulb manufacturers. Addressing dimming compatibility while maintaining cost effectiveness is key to accelerating widespread consumer adoption of LED bulbs in the coming years."

Digital TruDim technology

The CS161X series, which enables industry-leading dimming compatibility, is the culmination of a three-year investment in the TRIAC interface algorithm, LED driver topology and system architecture that underpin TruDim technology. The digital intelligence of the CS161X allows the controller to identify the type of dimmer in use and adjust the compatibility algorithm, providing smooth dimming in the same way that consumers have come to expect from incandescent bulbs for decades. The intelligent adaptive digital signal processing technology is impossible for today's analog controllers.

Close to 100% dimming compatibility tested

Cirrus Logic acquired more than 200 dimmers worldwide and developed a compatibility test to measure the impact of CS161X products on the performance of existing solutions. The dimming compatibility test includes testing of 120V and 230V products, covering single and multiple lamp configurations with 5-10 bulbs in parallel, measuring four key parameters to determine dimming compatibility: (1) function, (2) flicker-free stability, (3) smooth dimming, and (4) dimming range (max-min). Cirrus Logic's CS161X performed near perfect throughout the test, achieving 98% compatibility. The closest LED controller compatibility on the market is 71%, and the average LED controller compatibility is 50%.