PCA9956ATW: 24-channel Fm+ I²C-bus 57 mA/20 V constant current LED driver

The PCA9956A is an I²C-bus controlled 24-channel constant current LED driver optimized for dimming and blinking 57 mA Red/Green/Blue/Amber (RGBA) LEDs in amusement products. Each LED output has its own 8-bit resolution (256 steps) fixed frequency individual PWM controller that operates at 31.25 kHz with a duty cycle that is adjustable from 0 % to 99.6 % to allow the LED to be set to a specific brightness value. An additional 8-bit resolution (256 steps) group PWM controller has both a fixed frequency of 122 Hz and an adjustable frequency between 15 Hz to once every 16.8 seconds with a duty cycle that is adjustable from 0 % to 99.6 % that is used to either dim or blink all LEDs with the same value.

Each LED output can be off, on (no PWM control), set at its individual PWM controller value or at both individual and group PWM controller values. The PCA9956A operates with a supply voltage range of 3 V to 5.5 V and the constant current sink LED outputs allow up to 20 V for the LED supply. The output peak current is adjustable with an 8-bit linear DAC from 225 μA to 57 mA.

This device has built-in open, short load and overtemperature detection circuitry. The error information from the corresponding register can be read via the I²C-bus. Additionally, a thermal shutdown feature protects the device when internal junction temperature exceeds the limit allowed for the process.

The PCA9956A device has a Fast-mode Plus (Fm+) I²C-bus interface. Fm+ devices offer higher frequency (up to 1 MHz) or more densely populated bus operation (up to 4000 pF).

The active LOW output enable input pin (OE) blinks all the LED outputs and can be used to externally PWM the outputs, which is useful when multiple devices need to be dimmed or blinked together without using software control.

Software programmable LED Group and three Sub Call I²C-bus addresses allow all or defined groups of PCA9956A devices to respond to a common I²C-bus address, allowing for example, all red LEDs to be turned on or off at the same time or marquee chasing effect, thus minimizing I²C-bus commands. On power-up, PCA9956A will have a unique Sub Call address to identify it as a 24-channel LED driver. This allows mixing of devices with different channel widths. Three hardware address pins on PCA9956A allow up to 125 devices on the same bus.

The Software Reset (SWRST) function allows the master to perform a reset of the PCA9956A through the I²C-bus, identical to the Power-On Reset (POR) that initializes the registers to their default state causing the output current switches to be OFF (LED off). This allows an easy and quick way to reconfigure all device registers to the same condition.

sot1331-1_3d
Data Sheets (1)
Name/DescriptionModified Date
24-channel Fm+ I2C-bus 57 mA/20 V constant current LED driver (REV 2.1) PDF (1.2 MB) PCA9956A16 Apr 2015
Brochures (1)
Name/DescriptionModified Date
LED controllers: Voltage-switch drivers, constant-current drivers, and Flash LED drivers (REV 1.0) PDF (2.7 MB) 7501758803 Jul 2014
Package Information (1)
Name/DescriptionModified Date
plastic thermal enhanced thin shrink small outline package; 38 leads; body with 4.4 mm; lead pitch 0.5 mm; exposed die... (REV 1.0) PDF (624.0 kB) SOT1331-108 Feb 2016
Packing (2)
Name/DescriptionModified Date
HTSSOP38; Reel pack; SMD, 13" Q1/T1 standard product orientation; Orderable part number ending ,118 or J, Ordering code... (REV 1.0) PDF (435.0 kB) SOT1331-1_11808 Aug 2014
HTSSOP; Reel dry pack, SMD, 13" Q1/T1 standard product orientation Orderable part number ending ,518 or... (REV 1.0) PDF (435.0 kB) SOT1331-1_51808 Aug 2014
Ordering Information
ProductStatusPackage versionApplicationEnableOperating Temperature (Cel)PWMsI2C-bus interfaceReset input pinI2C-bus (kHz)Operating voltage (VDC)Max Sink Current per bit (mA)No of AddressesMax Sink Current, per package (mA)Number of bits
PCA9956ATWEnd of LifeSOT1331-1
PCA9956ATW/S911No Longer ManufacturedSOT1331-1
Package Information
Product IDPackage DescriptionOutline VersionReflow/Wave SolderingPackingProduct StatusPart NumberOrdering code(12NC)MarkingChemical ContentRoHS / Pb Free / RHFLeadFree Conversion DateMSLMSL LF
PCA9956ATWSOT1331-1Reel 13" Q1/T1 in DrypackDiscontinuedPCA9956ATWY (9352 993 72518)Standard MarkingAlways Pb-free33
PCA9956ATW/S911SOT1331-1Reel 13" Q1/T1 in DrypackDiscontinuedPCA9956ATW/S911Y (9352 993 73518)Standard MarkingAlways Pb-free33
24-channel Fm+ I2C-bus 57 mA/20 V constant current LED driver pca9956atw
LED controllers: Voltage-switch drivers, constant-current drivers, and Flash LED drivers pca9685pw
plastic thermal enhanced thin shrink small outline package; 38 leads; body with 4.4 mm; lead pitch 0.5 mm; exposed die pad PCU9956ATW
sot1331-1_fr PCU9956ATW
HTSSOP38; Reel pack; SMD, 13" Q1/T1 standard product orientation; Orderable part number ending ,118 or J, Ordering code... PCU9956ATW
HTSSOP; Reel dry pack, SMD, 13" Q1/T1 standard product orientation Orderable part number ending ,518 or... PCU9956ATW