Texas Instruments TPS61163YFFR

Overview

TPS61163YFFR from Texas Instruments is a dual-channel white LED driver IC designed for smartphone backlighting with integrated 1.5-A/40-V boost switch, 1.2-MHz switching frequency, dual 30-mA current sinks, 1% typical current matching, and 90-mV minimum voltage headroom control. It operates from 2.7 V to 6.5 V input and supports PWM and EasyScale™ digital dimming for high-resolution LCD panels.

For engineers reviewing the TPS61163YFFR datasheet, TPS61163YFFR pinout, TPS61163YFFR application, or TPS61163YFFR equivalent, key selection considerations include dual-string WLED current regulation accuracy, adaptive boost output voltage control, overvoltage protection thresholds (37.5 V SW OVP), thermal shutdown behavior, and compatibility with 4.7-µH inductors in space-constrained DSBGA packaging.

Technical Context

The TPS61163YFFR implements current-mode PWM control with internal slope compensation for stable operation above 50% duty cycle. Its adaptive boost output dynamically tracks the higher forward voltage of two parallel WLED strings, regulating via the lower IFBx pin voltage (target 90 mV) to minimize power dissipation in the current sinks.

It integrates dual independent current-sink regulators with programmable full-scale current (via ISET resistor), supports both PWM dimming (up to 100:1 ratio, 40 kHz max) and 9-bit EasyScale™ one-wire digital interface, and features built-in protections including SW/IFBx overvoltage detection, pulse-by-pulse overcurrent limiting, undervoltage lockout (2.3 V typ), and thermal shutdown (160°C).

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

TPS61163YFFR is housed in a 9-pin DSBGA package (1.336 mm × 1.336 mm, 0.4-mm pitch) optimized for ultra-thin mobile applications.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar WLED driver applications.

Compared with TPS61163YFFR, TPS61165YFFR offers higher current headroom for future-proofing, while LM3632AYFFR trades EasyScale™ simplicity for I²C configurability and broader vendor support - both require PCB layout revision due to differing pinouts and package footprints.

Availability

TPS61163YFFR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for smartphone backlighting, handheld GPS receivers, tablet LCD backlights, and portable medical displays requiring stable component supply across long production lifecycles.

Supply support for TPS61163YFFR 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

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor leader specializing in analog, embedded processing, and power management technologies with decades of automotive and mobile power solutions expertise.

The TPS61163YFFR belongs to TI's WLED backlight driver product line, engineered specifically for high-efficiency, space-constrained smartphone and portable display applications demanding precise dual-string current matching and adaptive voltage regulation.

FAQ

What is the maximum LED string voltage supported by the TPS61163YFFR?

The TPS61163YFFR supports up to 38 V output voltage per its recommended operating conditions, with 37.5 V typical overvoltage protection on the SW pin. This enables driving up to 10-series white LEDs (3.6 V VF each) from a 3.6 V input. The adaptive boost architecture automatically adjusts output to match the higher string voltage while maintaining 90-mV headroom on the regulated IFBx pin, ensuring optimal efficiency across varying LED configurations and temperatures. TPS61163YFFR achieves this without external feedback dividers or voltage clamps.

How does the TPS61163YFFR achieve 1% current matching between its two channels?

The TPS61163YFFR achieves 1% typical current matching through matched internal current-sink transistor pairs and precision voltage references, verified across temperature and process variations. Each channel shares the same ISET reference voltage (1.229 V typ) and current multiplier (KISET_full = 1030), minimizing gain mismatch. The dual IFBx inputs are independently regulated to the same 90-mV target, and the adaptive boost output ensures equal headroom conditions. TPS61163YFFR maintains this accuracy from –40°C to +85°C ambient, as confirmed in Section 7.5 of the datasheet under "Current Accuracy" and "KM" parameters.

Can the TPS61163YFFR operate with only one LED string enabled?

Yes, the TPS61163YFFR supports single-string operation by grounding the unused IFBx pin (e.g., IFB2). During startup, the device detects the grounded pin and disables that channel's current sink, removing it from the regulation loop. The remaining active channel continues full operation with unchanged current accuracy and dimming control. If both IFBx pins are grounded, the TPS61163YFFR will not start up. This configuration requires no firmware change or external logic - it is handled entirely in hardware during the IFBx status detection phase after EN assertion.

What is the purpose of the COMP pin on the TPS61163YFFR, and what capacitor value is required?

The COMP pin on the TPS61163YFFR is the output of the transconductance error amplifier used to stabilize the boost converter feedback loop. It must be connected to an external 330-nF capacitor (as specified in Section 7.3 Recommended Operating Conditions) between COMP and GND to set loop compensation, ensure phase margin >45°, and prevent oscillation during load transients. This capacitor directly affects startup time, output voltage ripple, and recovery from step-load changes. Using a value outside the 330-nF recommendation - such as 100 nF or 1 µF - risks instability or excessive overshoot. TPS61163YFFR's COMP pin also sources/sinks up to 12 µA, enabling active compensation if needed.

Does the TPS61163YFFR support both PWM and digital dimming simultaneously?

No, the TPS61163YFFR supports either PWM dimming or EasyScale™ digital dimming - not both simultaneously. At startup, it detects the interface mode: if a valid EasyScale™ pulse sequence is applied to the EN pin within the 1-ms detection window, the device enters digital mode and ignores the PWM pin (which must be held high). If no EasyScale™ sequence is detected, it defaults to PWM mode and requires the EN pin to remain high. Attempting to drive both interfaces concurrently will result in undefined behavior or failure to regulate. TPS61163YFFR's mode selection is hardware-determined at power-up and cannot be changed dynamically during operation without cycling EN/PWM.