Diodes Incorporated AL1794EV1

Overview

AL1794EV1 from Diodes Incorporated is an evaluation board for the AL1794AFE-13 quad-channel constant-current LED driver IC, designed to validate tunable white/color smart connected lighting (SCL) implementations. It supports independent analog and PWM dimming per channel, delivers preset current ratios (1:1:0.75:0.25), and integrates a 3.3V/150mA LDO (AP2204K) for MCU power - enabling full-system prototyping of SCL bulbs and panel lights with e-flicker-free dimming up to 10 kHz.

For engineers reviewing the AL1794EV1 datasheet, AL1794EV1 pinout, AL1794EV1 application, or AL1794EV1 equivalent, this board provides verified hardware reference for LED current-ratio tuning, thermal management validation under varying VLED headroom, PWM linearity testing at deep-dimming levels (0.1–10%), and fault reporting integration (FAULTB/LEDPG) in real-world SCL topologies.

Technical Context

The AL1794EV1 implements a four-channel CCR architecture where each channel regulates cathode-side current using external RSET (R601 = 12 kΩ default), delivering 250 mA / 250 mA / 187.5 mA / 62.5 mA at 6.5–24 V_IN. It interfaces with an external MCU via 10-pin MCU1 header for PWM1–PWM4 and EN control, while supporting dual anode voltage inputs (VLED1/VLED2) for flexible string configuration.

Thermal design centers on the AL1794's U-DFN4030-14 package (θ_JA = 55 °C/W), requiring exposed-pad grounding and PCB copper area optimization to maintain junction temperature below 160 °C. Protection features include UVLO, OTP, open/short LED detection, and active-low FAULTB/LEDPG outputs with external pull-ups.

Key Specifications

Availability

AL1794EV1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for smart connected lighting bulb development, tunable-white troffer prototyping, and LED panel light system validation requiring stable component supply, repeatable thermal characterization, and production-ready dimming performance verification.

Supply support for AL1794EV1 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 integrated circuits, specializing in high-performance power management, signal integrity, and lighting solutions for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

The AL1794EV1 belongs to Diodes' Smart Lighting Evaluation Platform family, engineered to accelerate time-to-market for tunable-white and color-mixing LED systems by providing validated hardware, thermal guidelines, and PWM linearity data aligned with IESNA human-perception models.

FAQ

What is the maximum input voltage supported by AL1794EV1?

The AL1794EV1 board supports up to 24 VDC when using the onboard AP2204K 3.3 V LDO for MCU power; exceeding 24 V risks overvoltage on the LDO. If the 3.3 V rail is bypassed, the AL1794 IC itself accepts up to 30 VDC - confirmed by the IC's absolute maximum rating and board-level VIN trace routing.

How do I adjust channel current settings on AL1794EV1?

Channel currents are set via RSET (R601). With R601 = 12 kΩ, default currents are 250 mA / 250 mA / 187.5 mA / 62.5 mA. To change values, replace R601 with a resistor calculated as RSET = 1.25 V / I_CH, where I_CH is the desired channel 1 current - all other channels scale proportionally per the fixed 1:1:0.75:0.25 ratio.

Does AL1794EV1 support analog dimming in addition to PWM?

Yes - the AL1794 IC supports analog dimming via its REF pin, which accepts an external voltage (0–1.25 V) to linearly scale all channel currents. On AL1794EV1, analog dimming is implemented by replacing R601 with a DAC or potentiometer-based voltage divider; the board's schematic shows REF tied to R601 but leaves the node accessible for such modification.

What protection features are implemented and how are they signaled?

AL1794EV1 implements UVLO, over-temperature (OTP), open-circuit, and short-circuit LED protection. Fault conditions assert the active-low FAULTB pin; insufficient LED headroom asserts LEDPG low. Both require external 10 kΩ pull-up resistors (R607/R608), and their states are accessible via MCU1 header pins 4 and 3 respectively - enabling real-time system-level fault logging.