AME9003

The AME9003 is AME's next generation direct drive CCFL controller. Like its cousins, the AME9001 and AME9002, the AME9003 controller provides a cost efficient means to drive single or multiple cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL), driving 3 external MOSFETs that, in turn, drive a wirewound transformer that is coupled to the CCFL.

The AME9003, like the AME9002 includes extra circuitry that allows for a special one second start up period wherein the voltage across the CCFL is held at a higher than normal voltage to allow older tubes (or cold tubes) a period in which they can" warm up". During this one second startup period the driving frequency is adjusted off of resonance so that the tube voltage can be controlled. As soon as the CCFL " strikes" the special start up period ends and the circuit operates in its normal mode. However the AME9003 uses an extra capacitor to accurately set the start up interval. In addition to that the AME9003 features a soft start AND soft finish on each dimming cycle edge in order to minimize any audible vibrations during the dimming function.

The AME9003 also includes features such as, dimming control polarity selection, undervoltage lockout and fault detection. It is designed to work with input voltages from 7V up to 24V. When disabled the circuit goes into a zero current mode