Diodes Incorporated AL5887EV1

Overview

AL5887EV1 from Diodes Incorporated is an evaluation board for the AL5887 36-channel RGB LED driver IC, supporting I²C and SPI digital control, 12-bit per-channel PWM (30 kHz), programmable global current up to 70 mA/channel via external RSET resistor, and three independent color-mixing banks (A/B/C) for synchronized vivid lighting effects in architectural and signage applications.

For engineers reviewing the AL5887EV1 datasheet, AL5887EV1 pinout, AL5887EV1 application, or AL5887EV1 equivalent, this page delivers verified hardware configuration details, jumper-defined interface selection (I²C/SPI), USB-powered operation via FT4222H bridge, thermal shutdown behavior, and real-world LED test patterns including breathing and multi-color chasing effects.

Technical Context

The AL5887EV1 implements a dual-interface architecture: the AL5887 LED driver IC provides 36 constant-current channels with independent 12-bit brightness/color registers and 30 kHz PWM, while the FT4222HQ-D USB-to-SPI/I²C bridge enables PC-based control via micro-USB (J407) at up to 2 MHz SPI or 400 kHz I²C speeds. Jumper-selectable INT_SEL (J27) and MUX (J410) pins determine active protocol mode.

Power delivery is segmented: 3.3 V logic supply (VIN_3V3, J411) powers AL5887 and FT4222H; separate 5 V LED supply (VLED_EXT, J401 or USB-C J350) drives the RGB loads. Thermal protection activates at 160°C junction temperature, with automatic recovery at 150°C - confirmed by TP122 (IREF = 0.7 V) and fault register monitoring.

Key Specifications

Availability

AL5887EV1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for LED signage prototyping, architectural lighting validation, and embedded display subsystem development requiring stable component supply and rapid GUI-driven effect iteration.

Supply support for AL5887EV1 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 power management, signal integrity, and LED driver solutions for industrial, consumer, and automotive markets.

The AL5887EV1 belongs to Diodes' LED driver evaluation platform family, designed specifically to accelerate development of high-fidelity RGB lighting systems using programmable multi-channel constant-current drivers with zero-noise PWM and flexible digital interface options.

FAQ

What interface protocols does the AL5887EV1 support, and how are they selected?

The AL5887EV1 supports both I²C (up to 400 kHz) and SPI (up to 2 MHz) through the onboard FT4222HQ-D bridge IC. Interface selection is hardware-controlled: shorting J27 pins 2–3 configures I²C mode, while shorting pins 1–2 selects SPI. The MUX selection jumper (J410) must also be set accordingly - pin 1–2 for I²C, pin 2–3 for SPI - as confirmed in Table 3 of the user guide.

How is LED current calibrated on the AL5887EV1, and what is the role of RSET?

LED current is calibrated using the external RSET resistor (R49 = 2.1 kΩ) connected to the AL5887's IREF pin (TP122). This sets the reference voltage to 0.7 V, enabling precise global current scaling per Equation (1) in Section 15.2. The 6-bit global dimming register (address 66H) further adjusts output range from 7 mA to 70 mA per channel without changing RSET.

Can the AL5887EV1 operate without a PC, and what external controllers are compatible?

Yes - the AL5887EV1 supports standalone operation via external microcontrollers. By configuring jumpers for I²C_EXT (J304/J305) and connecting to J172 (I2C_SDA_EXT, I2C_SCL_EXT, GND), users can drive the AL5887 directly from Arduino, STM32, or other I²C-capable MCUs. Slave address is configurable via ADDR0/ADDR1 resistors (R1019–R1022), supporting up to four boards on one bus.

What thermal protection features are implemented, and how is thermal status monitored?

The AL5887EV1 implements automatic thermal shutdown at 160°C (typical) with recovery at 150°C (typical), protecting both the AL5887 and connected LEDs. Thermal status is not exposed via dedicated pins but is reflected in register-based fault flags and observable via reduced output or complete channel disablement. No external thermal sensor is required - protection is fully internal and self-resetting.