Diodes Incorporated AL1793AFE-13

Overview

AL1793AFE-13 from Diodes Incorporated is a triple-channel, ratio-optimized constant-current LED driver for tunable white and tunable color smart lighting systems. It delivers independent analog or PWM dimming per channel, supports up to 0.5A per channel (1.5A total), operates from 6.5V–30V input, and features integrated LED open/short, UVLO, and over-temperature protection in a U-DFN-4030-14 package - deployed in 3-channel SCL bulbs and panel lights.

For engineers reviewing the AL1793AFE-13 datasheet, AL1793AFE-13 pinout, AL1793AFE-13 application, or AL1793AFE-13 equivalent, key selection considerations include channel current ratios (0.5A:0.5A:0.5A), deep PWM dimming capability (0.1%@1kHz), LED power good reporting (LEDPG), and fault signaling via open-drain FAULTB - all critical for reliable smart-connected lighting BOM design.

Technical Context

The AL1793AFE-13 implements three matched low-side current sinks with fixed 1:1:1 channel current ratio, enabling precise white-point tuning across warm/cool/neutral LEDs. Each channel accepts either PWM signals (500Hz–4kHz) or analog voltage (0.4V–1.5V) on shared PWMx pins, with internal deglitching (2ms analog / 6 cycles PWM) for robust open/short detection.

It integrates reference-based current setting via external RSET (e.g., 12kΩ yields 250mA/channel), real-time LED headroom monitoring (LEDPG), and thermal shutdown at 160°C with auto-recovery at 100°C. Fault reporting combines UVLO, OTP, open, and short conditions onto a single open-drain FAULTB output compatible with multi-device bus architectures.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

U-DFN-4030-14 package: 3.0mm × 4.0mm, 0.5mm pitch, exposed thermal pad (internally connected to GND, requires external GND connection and thermal vias).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar triple-channel LED driver applications.

Compared with AL1792AFE-13, AL1793AFE-13 adds full third-channel capability without altering footprint or thermal profile; versus AL1794AFE-13, it avoids underutilized low-current fourth channel while maintaining identical per-channel drive strength and layout simplicity.

Availability

AL1793AFE-13 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for smart connected lighting bulbs, panel lights, troffers, and ceiling fixtures requiring stable component supply, long-lifecycle assurance, and RoHS-compliant "Green" packaging.

Supply support for AL1793AFE-13 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Diodes Incorporated is a global manufacturer of discrete semiconductors and ICs, specializing in power management, signal integrity, and lighting solutions with ISO/TS 16949-certified operations.

The AL179x family targets smart-connected LED lighting systems, delivering scalable, ratio-optimized current regulation with integrated fault reporting and thermal resilience for tunable white/color applications.

FAQ

What dimming modes does AL1793AFE-13 support, and how are they selected?

The AL1793AFE-13 supports both analog and PWM dimming on the same PWMx pins. At startup, presence of a ≥500Hz PWM signal configures the device into PWM mode; absence defaults to analog mode. Analog dimming interprets 0.4–1.5V on PWMx as linear brightness control, while PWM mode uses digital high/low states with minimum pulse width of 2.5μs.

How does the LED Power Good (LEDPG) pin improve system efficiency?

LEDPG monitors headroom voltage (VLEDx – VLED_REG) across all three channels and asserts low if any channel falls below required dropout. This signal enables the host MCU to dynamically adjust the LED supply voltage - eliminating unnecessary overdrive and reducing regulator power dissipation by up to 18% in real-world panel light deployments.

Can multiple AL1793AFE-13 devices share a single FAULTB line?

Yes - FAULTB is an open-drain output requiring an external pull-up resistor. Multiple AL1793AFE-13 units can connect their FAULTB pins together with one shared pull-up, creating a wired-OR fault bus. Any device asserting FAULTB low will pull the entire line low, allowing a single MCU GPIO to monitor fault status across a multi-driver lighting module.

What is the role of the exposed thermal pad in the U-DFN-4030-14 package?

The exposed pad is internally connected to GND and serves as the primary thermal conduction path. It must be soldered to a PCB copper area with ≥4 thermal vias to an internal or bottom-layer ground plane. Proper pad connection reduces θJA from 55°C/W to ≤42°C/W, enabling full 1.5A operation at +85°C ambient without derating.