Littelfuse, Inc., the global leader in circuit protection, has developed a new line of open LED protectors optimized to provide superior protection against open LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). The PLED6M Series LED protector is designed to provide a switching electronic shunt path when an LED in an LED string fails as an open circuit. This ensures that the entire array of LEDs will continue providing illumination even if a single LED in the string fails. The new LED protectors provide greater lighting reliability in applications where uninterrupted illumination is critical, such as street, subway, runway, and tunnel lighting, as well as vehicle headlights, roadside warning lights, and outdoor signage.

The PLED6M Series is designed for use with one-watt LEDs, nominally 350mA, 3V. A low turn-on voltage of 7.5V (max) allows for fast switching after an LED opens. In addition, the on-state (bypass) voltage of 1.2V (max) reduces the steady state power dissipation following an LED open failure and is housed in a small form factor Powermite® package.

The PLED6M Series LED Protectors offer LED array designers a variety of key benefits:

• They provide an electronic shunt/bypass for open LEDs, allowing LED strings to keep functioning, even if one LED in the set fails as an open circuit.
• They automatically reset if the LED heals itself or the power is cycled, for low maintenance and high reliability.
• The low profile, small footprint POWERMITE® package provides maximum heat dissipation and greater layout flexibility, making it ideal for dense board applications.
• They can support high-brightness in outdoor LED applications.
• They are RoHS compliant, which ensures they are an environmentally friendly product.

Chad Marak, manager of the Littelfuse PLED product line, notes, “The PLED6M open LED protector will appeal to anyone who designs and manufactures outdoor lighting or signage that requires strings of high-brightness LEDs with high reliability and low maintenance requirements.”