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Design goals for a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) converter used in a notebook computer or portable application include small size, high efficiency, and low cost. The UCC3972/3 CCFL controllers provide the necessary circuit blocks to implement a highly efficient CCFL backlight power supply in a small footprint 8 pin TSSOP package. The BiCMOS controllers typically consume less than 1mA of operating current, improving overall system efficiency when compared to bipolar controllers requiring 5mA to 10mA of operating current.

External parts count is minimized and system cost is reduced by integrating such features as a feedback controlled PWM driver stage, open lamp protection, startup delay and synchronization circuitry between the buck and push-pull stages. The UCC3972/3 include an internal shunt regulator, allowing the part to operate with input voltages from 4.5V up to 25V. The part supports both analog and externally generated low frequency dimming modes of operation.

The UCC3973 adds a programmable voltage clamp at the BUCK pin. This feature can be used to protect the transformer from overvoltage during startup or when an open lamp occurs. Transformer voltage is controlled by reducing duty cycle when an over-voltage is detected.