EL SEGUNDO, CA. July 2001 - International Rectifier, Inc., IR® (NYSE: IRF) today announced the new IRPLDIM2 digital addressable dimming ballast reference design. The reference design allows manufacturers to deliver digital addressable ballasts to market quickly by providing an integrated solution that combines International Rectifier advanced dimming ballast control technology with a high-performance Flash microcontroller from Microchip Technology.

The IRPLDIM2 reference design incorporates all dimming ballast control and digital interface functions on one board, and reduces component count by 60%. The solution also provides superior dimming control for enhanced human comfort with up to 256 light-level settings. The reference design enables the implementation of a digital addressable ballast that meets all the specifications outlined in the Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI), an addendum to the electronic ballast standard IEC929.

The International Rectifier IR2159 dimming ballast control and gate driver IC is matched with Microchip's PIC16F628 Flash microcontroller to implement a fully documented and tested, digital addressable dimming fluorescent ballast into a single circuit board with only 92 components. Other digital addressable dimming ballasts typically require several hundred components and multiple circuit boards or use custom-developed ICs. The IR2159 uses a patented phase control technique that eliminates the current-sensing transformer, and provides stable logarithmic dimming from one hundred percent to one percent, making dimming very pleasing to the human eye.

Dave Zehrbach, Strategic Marketing Manager at Microchip said, "International Rectifier's new digital addressable fluorescent dimming ballast reference design implements all DALI commands with minimized parts count. IR is using Microchip's leading microcontroller and software technology to enhance the company's ballast control technology."

Digital addressable ballasts are emerging as a high performance solution to reduce maintenance and energy costs and simplify commercial lighting control when compared to ballasts used in analog lighting control systems. Digital addressable lighting systems have individual and group control, while previous control methods only had group control. Digital addressable ballast control can also detect malfunctions, and with the appropriate sensors, set lighting levels, resulting in energy savings.

With rising energy costs and shortages in many parts of the world, the digital addressable ballast is becoming a very attractive cost-cutting and energy-saving solution for large commercial and industrial lighting systems such as shopping centers, multi-story offices, hotels, theatres and sports arenas.

"Ballast manufacturers must acquire new skills to develop digital addressable ballasts and they rely on their suppliers for solutions. This new reference design is an easy-to-implement digital addressable dimming ballast that will help reduce wasteful energy consumption in 'smart' buildings," said Tom Ribarich, Director of Engineering for Lighting ICs at International Rectifier. "The design is compatible with the European DALI protocol and can be easily modified to accommodate custom interfaces as well."

Technical Details

The IRPLDIM2 reference design includes all documentation, software and hardware to develop a digital addressable dimming ballast that supports all DALI commands. The IRPLDIM2E reference design drives a standard 220V, 36W T8 fluorescent lamp for the European and Asian markets, while the IRPLDIM2U reference design drives a standard 110V, 32W T8 lamp for the North American market. The reference design can be easily customized for other fluorescent lamps using International Rectifier's free ballast design software.

The IR2159 is a 600V, fully protected and programmable 1% dimming ballast control and gate driver in one IC. The breakthrough architecture at the heart of the IR2159 is a phase control loop that senses and regulates the half-bridge phase current. Only a single pin with an external current-sensing resistor is used to measure all feedback information necessary for pre-heat, ignition, dimming and lamp fault. The IR2159 allows programming of preheat time for maximum lamp life, and has enough design flexibility for comprehensive protection such as failure to strike, open filament, automatic re-start, brownout and thermal overload. The result is a closed loop system that offers the simplest architecture for linear dimming ever developed, without requiring a separate current-sensing transformer or precision trimming of external timing components.

Pricing and More Information

The IRPLDIM2 digital addressable linear dimming ballast reference design will be available in the Summer of 2001 via www.irf.com/lighting for US $300 each. Data sheets for the IR2159 control IC, IR's ballast design software and an application note entitled, "DALI Digital Dimming Ballast," are available via the International Rectifier Web site, www.irf.com.

PIC16F628 Flash microcontroller information is posted on the Microchip Web site, www.microchip.com.

About International Rectifier

International Rectifier is recognized as the leading supplier of power semiconductors and systems solutions. IR's patented HEXFET® power MOSFETs, IGBTs and high-voltage ICs make electricity work smarter in industrial automation and controls, automotive electrical systems, consumer electronics, computers and peripherals, telecommunications, lighting and satellite/launch vehicle applications.

About Microchip

Microchip Technology Inc. manufactures the popular PICmicro® field-programmable RISC microcontrollers and a broad spectrum of high-performance linear and mixed-signal, power management and thermal management devices. The Company also offers interface, microID RFID, serial EEPROMs and the patented KEELOQ® security devices. This synergistic product portfolio targets applications for automotive, communications, computing, consumer and industrial control markets.

Trademark Notice

IR® and HEXFET® are registered trademarks of International Rectifier Corporation.

The Microchip name and logo, PIC®, and PICmicro® are are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology, Incorporated in the USA and other countries.

All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.

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