STMicroelectronics X-NUCLEO-LED61A1

Overview

X-NUCLEO-LED61A1 from STMicroelectronics is an Arduino™ UNO R3–compatible DC-DC LED driver expansion board based on the LED6001 IC, designed for single-string LED lighting control with 350 mA constant current output, selectable boost or SEPIC topology, and integrated fault management including open/short LED detection and overcurrent protection.

For engineers reviewing the X-NUCLEO-LED61A1 datasheet, X-NUCLEO-LED61A1 pinout, X-NUCLEO-LED61A1 application, or X-NUCLEO-LED61A1 equivalent, this board enables rapid prototyping of analog/PWM-dimmable LED systems interfaced directly to STM32 Nucleo microcontrollers via standardized headers, with ambient light sensing support and 8–24 V input operation.

Technical Context

The board implements a complete LED driver subsystem using the LED6001 controller IC, supporting both boost and SEPIC converter topologies to accommodate varying LED string voltage requirements while maintaining 350 mA regulated current. Fault handling includes real-time detection of open LED, feedback disconnection, LED overcurrent, and output-to-ground short-circuit (SEPIC mode only).

Brightness control is implemented via two independent paths: PWM input (0–100% dimming) and analog voltage input (0–3.3 V), with onboard photo-transistor enabling ambient-light-responsive dimming. The board operates across 8–24 V DC input and achieves up to 92% efficiency in boost configuration.

Key Specifications

Availability

X-NUCLEO-LED61A1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for indoor LED lighting, emergency lighting systems, and off-grid street lighting requiring stable component supply, rapid evaluation, and Arduino/STM32 interoperability.

Supply support for X-NUCLEO-LED61A1 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

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, delivering microcontrollers, power management ICs, sensors, and development tools for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

The X-NUCLEO series targets rapid STM32-based prototyping, with the LED61A1 specifically engineered to demonstrate high-efficiency, fault-resilient LED driving in architectural, emergency, and white-goods lighting applications.

FAQ

What microcontrollers is the X-NUCLEO-LED61A1 compatible with?

The board is natively compatible with all STM32 Nucleo development boards featuring Arduino™ UNO R3 headers, including NUCLEO-F030R8, NUCLEO-F401RE, and NUCLEO-L476RG. It interfaces via standard GPIO, PWM, and ADC pins - no firmware modification is required to enable basic dimming or fault monitoring.

Does the board support both boost and SEPIC modes simultaneously?

No - boost and SEPIC topologies are selected via hardware configuration (jumper JP1). Boost mode is used when LED string voltage exceeds input voltage; SEPIC allows output voltage above or below VIN and adds short-circuit protection on the output side, which boost does not provide.

How is ambient light dimming implemented?

Ambient light dimming uses an onboard photo-transistor connected to an analog input pin on the Nucleo board. The STM32 reads its voltage output and adjusts LED brightness proportionally - full schematic and calibration guidance are provided in Application Note AN4823 and the board's reference design files.

Can the X-NUCLEO-LED61A1 drive multiple LED strings?

No - it is a single-channel driver optimized for one LED string up to 350 mA. Driving multiple independent strings requires separate boards or a multi-channel solution like the X-NUCLEO-LED9 or STLD40D. Parallel connection of LEDs is not recommended due to current-sharing imbalance risks.