New Product | Maxic Launches Automotive-Grade 24-Channel High-Side LED Driver with UART MTQ60124

Maxic has recently launched the automotive-grade LED driver MTQ60124, featuring a UART interface and utilizing the industry-standard CAN physical layer. This architecture enables reliable long-distance off-board communication while maintaining robust EMC performance.

MTQ60124 is an automotive-grade 24-channel, 40V high-side constant-current LED driver compliant with the AEC-Q100 standard. It supports 8-bit analog dimming and 12-bit PWM duty-cycle dimming, enabling precise output current control.

The driver integrates diagnostic functions for LED open circuit, short-to-ground, and single-LED short circuit, meeting diverse lighting control requirements while ensuring reliable protection.

When communication with the MCU is lost, the configurable watchdog function automatically forces the driver into a FAIL-SAFE state. With its programmable EEPROM, MTQ60124 can be flexibly configured to support a wide range of applications, including full-width tail lights, grille lights, dynamic turn signals, daytime running lights (DRL), and position lights.

Compliant with AEC-Q100 automotive standards:

• Temperature Grade 1: –40 °C to +125 °C

Wide input voltage range: 4.5V-40V, supports direct battery connection

24-channel high-side precision current outputs: up to 100 mA:

• Output voltage: up to 20 V

• Current setting: 2-bit global and 6-bit independent control

• Current accuracy ≤ ±5% @ 5 mA–100 mA

• Low dropout: 750 mV @ 100 mA

• 12-bit independent PWM dimming

• Phase-shift PWM dimming

• Programmable PWM frequency: up to 20.8 kHz

• Supports linear and exponential dimming modes

• Output current slew-rate control for EMI optimization

Flexible wire control interface:

• Up to 2MHz UART frequency

• 16 physical addresses per driver

• Up to 24 bytes data transaction in one frame

• 5V LDO output to supply CAN transceiver

Comprehensive protection and diagnostic features:

• Programmable FAIL-SAFE state

• LED load-open protection

• LED short-circuit protection

• Single-LED short-circuit detection

• Programmable low-voltage warning

• Drain open-fault indication

• Watchdog and CRC

• 8-bit ADC for pin voltage monitoring

• Over-temperature protection

■24-Channel High-Side Precision Current Outputs Up to 100mA

MTQ60124 provides 24-channel high-side LED current outputs, with a maximum output current of up to 100mA per channel. The driver supports various dimming methods, including analog dimming, 24-bit PWM dimming, and Phase-shift PWM dimming, and enables both linear and logarithmic dimming curves. High-precision LED output control is achieved by configuring the channel current and PWM duty cycle via the MCU.

■  Three-Channel ADC Conversion Technology

MTQ60124 integrates three ADC channel, enabling key functions such as LED binning, thermal management, and voltage monitoring. The output channels OUTH0–OUTH2 support independent ADC sampling. This function can be activated by setting the OUTH0, OUTH1, and OUTH2 bits in register 89h to "1".

■  Independent Fail-Safe Operating Mode

MTQ60124 features an independent FAIL-SAFE mode to ensure operational safety when MCU communication is interrupted. If the UART cable is accidentally disconnected, causing communication interruption between the host and the driver and disabling control of all current channels, all output channels brightness will be locked and switching control will no longer be available.

In this condition, the driver automatically triggers the FAIL-SAFE mode via the Watchdog Timer. Basic on/off control of each output channel can then be maintained through the FS0/FS1 pins, with independent programmable enable/disable control per channel.

This mode also supports standalone operation without an MCU through pre-programmed EEPROM configuration.

■  Comprehensive Protection and Diagnostic Functions

MTQ60124 provides comprehensive diagnostic capabilities for supply voltage, output current, and junction temperature. Key protection mechanisms include UVLO (VBAT undervoltage lockout), LED load-open protection, LED short-circuit protection, single-LED short detection, and OTP (over-temperature protection).

■  Proprietary Output Current Slew-Rate Control Technology

MTQ60124 features proprietary output current slew-rate control, providing the system with excellent EMI performance. By configuring the SLEW_RATE register, the output current rise and fall times can be adjusted to 1 µs (default), 5 µs, or 10 µs.