STCS1A

1.5 A max constant current LED driver

Features
■ Up to 40 V input voltage
■ Less than 0.5 V voltage overhead
■ Up to 1.5 A output current
■ PWM dimming pin
■ Shutdown pin
DFN8 (3 x 3 mm) Power SO-8
■ LED disconnection diagnostic
■ Slope control with external cap

Applications
The current is set with external resistor up to 1.5
■ LED constant current supplying for varying
A with a ± 10 % precision; a dedicated pin allows
input voltages
implementing PWM dimming. An external
■ Low voltage lighting capacitor allows setting the slope for the current
■ Small appliances LED lighting rise from tens of microseconds to tens of
milliseconds allowing reduction of EMI.
■ Car LED lights
An open-drain pin output provides information on
load disconnection condition.
Description
The STCS1A is a BiCMOS constant current
source designed to provide a precise constant
current starting from a varying input voltage
source. The main target is to replace discrete
components solution for driving LEDs in low
voltage applications such as 5 V, 12 V or 24 V
giving benefits in terms of precision, integration
and reliability.

Table 1. Device summary

Order codes Packages Packaging

STCS1APUR DFN8 (3 x 3 mm) 3000 parts per reel

STCS1APHR Power SO-8 2500 parts per reel

July 2008 Rev 2 1/19

www.st.com 19
Contents STCS1A

Contents

1 Application diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2 Pin configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3 Maximum ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4 Electrical characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

5 Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

6 Typical performance characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

7 Detail description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7.1 Current setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7.2 Enable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7.3 PWM Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7.4 Diagnostic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

8 Application information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
8.1 Reverse polarity protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
8.2 Thermal considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

9 Package mechanical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

10 Revision history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

2/19
STCS1A Application diagram

1 Application diagram

Figure 1. Typical application diagram for 0.5 A LED current

VIN
4.5V to 40V
BAT46ZFILM

RIN 100 ohm CBYP

0.1µF VCC DRAIN

ON PWM
OFF
STCS1A CDRAIN
0.47µF
ON EN
OFF
DISC SLOPE GND FB

RFB
Load disconnection CSLOPE
0.2 ohm
(Open Drain output) 10nF

3/19
Pin configuration STCS1A

2 Pin configuration

Figure 2. Pin connections (top view)

DFN8 PowerSO-8

Table 2. Pin description

Pin n° Symbol Note

1 VCC Supply voltage

2 PWM PWM dimming input
3 EN Shutdown pin
4 DRAIN Internal N-MOSFET drain
Feedback input. The control loop regulates the current in such a way that the average
5 FB voltage at the FB input is 100 mV (nominal). The cathode of the LED and a resistor to
ground to set the LED current should be connected at this point.
6 GND Ground
7 SLOPE Capacitor for slope control
8 DISC Load disconnection flag (open drain)
Exp-pad Internally connected to ground.

4/19
STCS1A Maximum ratings

3 Maximum ratings

Table 3. Absolute maximum ratings

Symbol Parameter Value Unit

VCC DC supply voltage -0.3 to +45

V
DRAIN Drain pin -0.3 to +45
PWM, EN, DISC Logic pins -0.3 to + VCC + 0.3 V
SLOPE, FB Configuration pins -0.3 to + 3.3 V
ESD Human body model (all pins) ±2 kV
(1)
TJ Junction temperature -40 to 150 °C
TSTG Storage temperature range -55 to 150 °C
1. TJ is calculated from the ambient temperature TA and the power dissipation PD accoring the following formula:
TJ = TA + (PD x RthJA). See Figure 16 and Figure 17 for details of max power dissipation for ambient temperatures higher
than 25°C.

Note: Absolute maximum ratings are those values beyond which damage to the device may occur.
Functional operation under these conditions is not implied.

Table 4. Thermal data

Symbol Parameter DFN8 Power SO-8 Unit

RthJC Thermal resistance junction-case 10 12 °C/W

(1) (2)
RthJA Thermal resistance junction-ambient 37.6 45 °C/W
1. This value is referred to four-layer PCB, JEDEC standard test board.
2. With two sides, two planes PCB following EIA/JEDEC JESD51-7 standard.

5/19
Electrical characteristics STCS1A

4 Electrical characteristics

Table 5. Electrical characteristics (VCC = 12 V; IO = 100 mA; TJ = -40 °C to 125 °C; VDRAIN = 1 V;
CDRAIN = 1 µF; CBYP = 100 nF typical values are at TA = 25°C, unless otherwise specified)
Symbol Parameter Test conditions Min. Typ. Max. Unit

VCC Supply voltage range 4.5 40 V

Output current range 1 1500 mA
IO Output current RFB = 0.2 Ω 500 mA
Regulation (percentage with VCC = 4.5 to 40 V,
-1 +1 %
respect to VCC=12V) IO = 100mA; VDRAIN = 1 V
VFB Feedback voltage IO = 0 to 1.5A 90 100 110 mV
On Mode 450 750
Shutdown Mode;
Quiescent current (Measured on 1
ICC VCC = 5 to 12V µA
VCC pin)
Shutdown Mode;
3
VCC = 12 to 40V
IO = 100 mA 0.12 0.16
VDROP Dropout voltage (VDRAIN to GND) V
IO = 1.5 A 0.58 0.9
LEAKDRAIN Drain leakage current Shutdown; VDRAIN = 40 V 10 µA
Rise/Fall time of the current on CSLOPE = 10 nF,
TR/TF 800 µs
PWM transition TJ = -40 °C to 105 °C
VPWM rising, VCC = 12 V
3
Delay on PWM signal CSLOPE = floating
TD µs
(see Figure 1) VPWM falling, VCC = 12 V
1.2
CSLOPE = floating
Low level voltage ISINK = 5 mA 0.2 0.5 V
Leakage current VDISC = 5 V 1 µA
DISC
Load disconnection threshold DISC Turn-ON 75
mV
(VDRAIN-GND) DISC Turn-OFF 110

Thermal Shutdown temperature 155

°C
Protection Hysteresis 25

Logic Inputs (PWM and EN)

VL Input low level 0.4 V

VH Input high level 1.2 V
EN, PWM leakage current VEN = 5 V; VPWM = 5 V 2
EN input leakage current VEN = 40 V 60 µA
PWM input leakage current VPWM = 40 V 120

Note: All devices 100 % production tested at TA = 25 °C. Limits over the operating temperature
range are guaranteed by design.

6/19
STCS1A Timing

5 Timing

Figure 3. PWM and output current timing

PWM

90%

10%
Current

TD Trise TD Tfall

Figure 4. Block diagram

High Voltage Low Voltage 3.3 V H.V.

45 V 45 V

Thermal
Preregulator Bandgap Shutdown
VCC
3.3 V 1.23 V DISC
Shutdown +
all blocks
75 mV

Enable
- Disc
EN Enable,
Input comp
PWM & DRAIN
Slope controll
PWM Logic
PWM Input

+
Logic
100 mV - Driver
Comp
GND Slope FB
Control

SLOPE

7/19
Typical performance characteristics STCS1A

6 Typical performance characteristics

Figure 5. IDRAIN vs VCC, TA = 25°C Figure 6. IDRAIN vs RSET

Figure 7. IDRAIN vs Temperature Figure 8. VDROP (including VFB) vs

temperature

Figure 9. ICC vs Temperature Figure 10. ICC vs VCC

8/19
STCS1A Typical performance characteristics

Figure 11. Trise/Tfall vs CSLOPE Figure 12. Turn-on time

CSLOPE = floating

Figure 13. Dimming operation: Rise Figure 14. Dimming operation: Fall

CSLOPE = 1nF CSLOPE = 1nF

9/19
Detail description STCS1A

7 Detail description

The STCS1A is a BiCMOS constant current source designed to provide a precise constant
current starting from a varying input voltage source. The main target is to replace discrete
components solution for driving LEDs in low voltage applications such as 5 V, 12 V or 24 V
giving benefits in terms of precision, integration and reliability.

7.1 Current setting

The current is set with an external sensing resistor connected to the FB pin. The feedback
voltage is 100 mV, then a low resistor value can be chosen reducing power dissipation. A
value between 1 for instance, should one need a 700 mA LEDs current, RF should be
selected according to the following equation:
For instance, should one need a 700 mA LEDs current, RF should be selected according to
the following equation:
RF = VFB / ILEDs = 100 mV / 700 mA = 142 mΩ

7.2 Enable
When the enable pin is low the device completely off thus reducing current consumption to
less than 1 µA. When in shutdown mode, the internal main switch is off.

7.3 PWM dimming

The PWM input allows implementing PWM dimming on the LED current; when the PWM
input is high the main switch will be on and vice versa. A typical frequency range for the
input is from few Hertz to 50 kHz. The maximum dimming frequency is limited by the
minimum rise/fall time of the current (obtained with CSLOPE = 0) which is around 4µs each.
Above 50 kHz the current waveforms starts assuming a triangular shape.
While the PWM input is switching, the overall circuitry remains on, this is needed in order to
implement two important features: short delay time and controlled slope for the current.
Since the PWM pin is controlling just the main switch, the overall circuitry is always on and it
is able to control the delay time between the PWM input signal and the output current in the
range of few µs, this is important to implement synchronization among several light LED
sources.
The rise and fall slope of the current is controlled by the CSLOPE capacitor. The rise and fall
time are linear dependent from the CSLOPE capacitor value (see graph in typical
characteristics). A controlled rise time has two main benefits: reducing EMI noise and avoid
current spike at turn on.
When CSLOPE is left floating, the internal switch is turned on at maximum speed, in this
condition an overshoot can be present on the LED current before the system goes into
regulation.

10/19
STCS1A Detail description

7.4 Diagnostic
When STCS1A is in on mode (EN is high), the device is able to detect disconnection or fail
of the LED string monitoring VDRAIN pin. If VDRAIN is lower than 75 mV the DISC pin is
pulled low regardless the PWM pin status. This information can be used by the system to
inform that some problem happens in the LEDs.

11/19
Application information STCS1A

8 Application information

8.1 Reverse polarity protection

STCS1A must be protected from reverse connection of the supply voltage. Since the current
sunk from VCC pin is in the range of 450 µA a small diode connected to VCC is able to
protect the chip. Care must be taken for the whole application circuit, especially for the
LEDs, in fact, in case a negative voltage is applied between VIN and GND, a negative
voltage will be applied to the LED string that must have a total breakdown voltage higher
than the negative applied voltage in order to avoid any damage.

Figure 15. Reverse polarity condition

VIN

BAT46
or similar VCC DRAIN

PWM

EN
DISC SLOPE GND FB
+

8.2 Thermal considerations

The STCS1A is able to control a LED current up to 1.5 A and able to sustain a voltage on
the drain pin up to 40 V. Those operating conditions are however limited by thermal
constraints, the thermal resistances shown in the Thermal data section are the typical ones,
in particular RthJA depends on the copper area and the number of layers of the printed
circuit board under the pad. DFN8 and PowerSO-8 have an exposed die attach pad which
enhances the thermal conductivity enabling high power application.
The power dissipation in the device can be calculated as follow:
PD = (VDRAIN - VFB) x ILED + (VCC x ICC)
basing on this and on the thermal resistance and ambient temperature, the junction
temperature can be calculated as:
TJ = RthJA x PD + TA
A typical application could be:
– Input voltage: 12 V;
– 3 white LEDs with an typical VF=3.6 V;

12/19
STCS1A Application information

– LEDs current: 500 mA;

– Package: DFN8 3x3 mm;
– TA = 50°C;
In this case VDRAIN = 12 - 3 x 3.6 = 1.2 V
PD = (1.2 - 0.1) x 0.5 + 12 x 0.5 x 10-3 = 0.55 + 6 x 10-3 = 556 mW
The junction temperature will be:
TJ = 37.6 x 0.556 + 50 = 70.9 °C
The following pictures show the maximum power dissipation according to the ambient
temperature for both packages:

Figure 16. Maximum power dissipation vs TA Figure 17. Maximum power dissipation vs TA
for DFN8 3x3 mm for PowerSO-8

3.50 3.00
RthJA = 38 [°C/W] RthJA = 45 [°C/W]
3.00 2.50
2.50
2.00
PDMAX [W]

PDMAX [W]
2.00
1.50
1.50
1.00
1.00

0.50 0.50
PDMAX = (TJMAX-TA)/RthJA PDMAX = (TJMAX-TA)/RthJA
0.00 0.00
25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105 115 125 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105 115 125
[°C] [°C]

13/19
Package mechanical data STCS1A

9 Package mechanical data

In order to meet environmental requirements, ST offers these devices in ECOPACK®

packages. These packages have a lead-free second level interconnect. The category of
second Level Interconnect is marked on the package and on the inner box label, in
compliance with JEDEC Standard JESD97. The maximum ratings related to soldering
conditions are also marked on the inner box label. ECOPACK is an ST trademark.
ECOPACK specifications are available at: www.st.com.

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STCS1A Package mechanical data

DFN8 (3x3 mm) mechanical data

mm. mils.
Dim.
Min. Typ. Max. Min. Typ. Max.

A 0.80 0.90 1.00 31.5 35.4 39.4

A1 0.02 0.05 0.8 2.0

A2 0.70 27.6

A3 0.20 7.9

b 0.18 0.23 0.30 7.1 9.1 11.8

D 3.00 118.1

D2 2.23 2.38 2.48 87.8 93.7 97.7

E 3.00 118.1

E2 1.49 1.64 1.74 58.7 64.6 68.5

e 0.50 19.7

L 0.30 0.40 0.50 11.8 15.7 19.7

15/19
Package mechanical data STCS1A

PowerSO-8 mechanical data

mm. inch.
Dim.
Min. Typ. Max. Min. Typ. Max.
A 1.70 0.067
A1 0.00 0.15 0.00 0.006
A2 1.25 0.049 0.142
b 0.31 0.51 0.012 0.020
c 0.17 0.25 0.007 0.010
D 4.80 4.90 5.00 0.189 0193 0.197
D1 2.24 3.10 3.20 0.088 0.122 0.126
E 5.80 6.00 6.20 0.228 0.236 0.244
E1 3.80 3.90 4.00 0.150 0.154 0.157
E2 1.55 2.41 2.51 0.061 0.095 0.099
e 1.27 0.050
h 0.25 0.50 0.010 0.020
L 0.40 1.27 0.016 0.050
k 0° 8° 0° 8°
ccc 0.10 0.004

7195016C

16/19
STCS1A Package mechanical data

Tape & reel QFNxx/DFNxx (3x3) mechanical data

mm. inch.
Dim.
Min. Typ. Max. Min. Typ. Max.

A 180 7.087

C 12.8 13.2 0.504 0.519

D 20.2 0.795

N 60 2.362

T 14.4 0.567

Ao 3.3 0.130

Bo 3.3 0.130

Ko 1.1 0.043

Po 4 0.157

P 8 0.315

17/19
Revision history STCS1A

10 Revision history

Table 6. Document revision history

Date Revision Changes

19-Feb-2008 1 Initial release.

02-Jul-2008 2 Modified: Table 5 on page 6.

18/19
STCS1A

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19/19