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TLC6946

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16-channel, 16-bit ES-PWM constant-current LED driver with 32 multiplexing

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Data sheet

TLC6946

ACTIVE
Data sheet Order now

Product details

Features Fault Detection, LED Open Detection, PWM LED Driver, Pre-Charge FET, SRAM, Thermal shutdown Analog dimming steps 128 Data transfer rate (typ) (MHz) 33 Ch to ch accuracy (typ) (±%) 1.5 Rating Catalog Operating temperature range (°C) -40 to 85
Features Fault Detection, LED Open Detection, PWM LED Driver, Pre-Charge FET, SRAM, Thermal shutdown Analog dimming steps 128 Data transfer rate (typ) (MHz) 33 Ch to ch accuracy (typ) (±%) 1.5 Rating Catalog Operating temperature range (°C) -40 to 85
SSOP (DBQ) 24 51.9 mm² 8.65 x 6 VQFN (RGE) 24 16 mm² 4 x 4
  • Power Supply Voltage Ranges
    • VCC Voltage Range: 3 V to 5.5 V
    • VLED Voltage Range: Up to VCC + 0.3 V
  • 16 Constant-Current-Sink Channels
    • 0.3 mA to 25 mA (3 V ≤ VCC ≤ 5.5 V)
    • Channel Current Deviation: ±1% (typical)
    • Device Current Deviation: ±1% (typical)
    • Low Knee Voltage: 0.3 V (typical) at 10 mA
  • 7-Bit (128 Steps) Global Brightness Control (BC)
  • 16-Bit (65,536 Steps) Enhanced Spectrum PWM Grayscale Control
  • Built-In Memory Supports 32 Multiplexing for TLC6946 and 48 Multiplexing for TLC6948
  • LED Display Performance Enhancement
    • Low-Grayscale Uniformity Improvement
    • Low-Grayscale Coupling Issue Elimination
    • Ghosting Removal and Caterpillar Elimination
  • High-Speed Serial-Data Interface
    • Data-Shift Clock: 33 MHz (maximum)
    • Grayscale Control Clock: 33 MHz (maximum)
    • Supports Dual-Edge Grayscale Control
  • Diagnostics and Protection
    • LED-Open Detection (LOD)
    • IREF Resistor Short Protection (ISP)
    • Thermal Shutdown (TSD)
  • Smart Power-Save Mode
  • Power Supply Voltage Ranges
    • VCC Voltage Range: 3 V to 5.5 V
    • VLED Voltage Range: Up to VCC + 0.3 V
  • 16 Constant-Current-Sink Channels
    • 0.3 mA to 25 mA (3 V ≤ VCC ≤ 5.5 V)
    • Channel Current Deviation: ±1% (typical)
    • Device Current Deviation: ±1% (typical)
    • Low Knee Voltage: 0.3 V (typical) at 10 mA
  • 7-Bit (128 Steps) Global Brightness Control (BC)
  • 16-Bit (65,536 Steps) Enhanced Spectrum PWM Grayscale Control
  • Built-In Memory Supports 32 Multiplexing for TLC6946 and 48 Multiplexing for TLC6948
  • LED Display Performance Enhancement
    • Low-Grayscale Uniformity Improvement
    • Low-Grayscale Coupling Issue Elimination
    • Ghosting Removal and Caterpillar Elimination
  • High-Speed Serial-Data Interface
    • Data-Shift Clock: 33 MHz (maximum)
    • Grayscale Control Clock: 33 MHz (maximum)
    • Supports Dual-Edge Grayscale Control
  • Diagnostics and Protection
    • LED-Open Detection (LOD)
    • IREF Resistor Short Protection (ISP)
    • Thermal Shutdown (TSD)
  • Smart Power-Save Mode

In high-density, fine-pitch LED panel applications, the performance demand for multi-channel LED drivers is increasing to achieve high multiplexing, high PWM resolution, and high refresh rates. To meet strict display quality requirements, the LED drivers must have the ability to solve various issues in different LED-matrix application scenarios.

The TLC694x device is a 16-channel, constant-current-sink LED driver. Each channel has an individually adjustable 65,536 steps of PWM grayscale control. The maximum constant-current value of all 16 channels is set by a single external resistor with 128 steps of global brightness control from 0.3 mA to 25 mA.

The TLC694x device integrates enhanced circuits to solve the various display issues in fine-pitch LED display applications: the low-grayscale uniformity issue, coupling issue, ghosting issue, and caterpillar issue.

The TLC694x device features an LED-open detection function, and the error detection results can be read via a serial data interface port. Thermal shutdown and IREF resistor short protection ensure a higher system reliability. The TLC694x device also has an smart power-save mode that sets the total current consumption to 1 mA (typical) when all outputs are off.

In high-density, fine-pitch LED panel applications, the performance demand for multi-channel LED drivers is increasing to achieve high multiplexing, high PWM resolution, and high refresh rates. To meet strict display quality requirements, the LED drivers must have the ability to solve various issues in different LED-matrix application scenarios.

The TLC694x device is a 16-channel, constant-current-sink LED driver. Each channel has an individually adjustable 65,536 steps of PWM grayscale control. The maximum constant-current value of all 16 channels is set by a single external resistor with 128 steps of global brightness control from 0.3 mA to 25 mA.

The TLC694x device integrates enhanced circuits to solve the various display issues in fine-pitch LED display applications: the low-grayscale uniformity issue, coupling issue, ghosting issue, and caterpillar issue.

The TLC694x device features an LED-open detection function, and the error detection results can be read via a serial data interface port. Thermal shutdown and IREF resistor short protection ensure a higher system reliability. The TLC694x device also has an smart power-save mode that sets the total current consumption to 1 mA (typical) when all outputs are off.
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Technical documentation

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Type Title Date
* Data sheet TLC694x 16-Channel 32-, 48-Multiplexing 16-Bit ES-PWM Constant-Current LED Driver datasheet (Rev. A) PDF | HTML 07 Jan 2019
White paper Common LED Functions and LED Driver Design Considerations 21 Sep 2020
User guide Using the TLC694x VQFN Evaluation Module 15 Feb 2019
EVM User's guide TLC6946 Evaluation Module User's Guide 24 May 2018

Design & development

For additional terms or required resources, click any title below to view the detail page where available.

Evaluation board

BOOSTXL-TLC6946EVM — TLC6946 16-channel 32-multiplexing 16-bit ES-PWM constant-current LED driver evaluation module

The TLC6946 evaluation module (BOOSTXL-TLC6946EVM) is a reference for engineering demonstration and evaluation of the TLC6946 16-channel 32-multiplexing 16-bit ES-PWM constant-current LED driver. The BOOSTXL-TLC6946EVM uses three TLC6946 devices to drive 16 RGB LEDs, each device controlling one (...)
User guide: PDF
Not available on TI.com
Evaluation board

BOOSTXL-TLC6948EVM — TLC694x 16-channel 32-, 48-multiplexing 16-bit ES-PWM constant-current LED driver evaluation module

The TLC694x evaluation module (BOOSTXL-TLC6948EVM) is a reference for engineering demonstration and evaluation of the TLC694x 16-channel 32-,  48-multiplexing 16-bit ES-PWM constant-current LED driver with QFN package. The BOOSTXL-TLC6948EVM uses three TLC694x VQFN package devices to drive 16 (...)
User guide: PDF
Not available on TI.com
Simulation model

TLC6946 IBIS MODEL

SLVMD45.ZIP (44 KB) - IBIS Model
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Simulation model

TLC6946 Unencrypted PSpice Transient Model Package (Rev. B)

SLVMCX8B.ZIP (147 KB) - PSpice Model
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Simulation tool

PSPICE-FOR-TI — PSpice® for TI design and simulation tool

PSpice® for TI is a design and simulation environment that helps evaluate functionality of analog circuits. This full-featured, design and simulation suite uses an analog analysis engine from Cadence®. Available at no cost, PSpice for TI includes one of the largest model libraries in the (...)
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SSOP (DBQ) 24 Ultra Librarian
VQFN (RGE) 24 Ultra Librarian
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