It delivers a scalable, efficient, and reliable solution for rear vehicle LED lighting, featuring fault detection, thermal protection, and simplified prototyping for automotive engineers.
Texas Instruments (TI) has introduced a new reference design tailored for the fast-evolving needs of automotive lighting systems. As the industry shifts from conventional halogen and incandescent lamps to high-brightness LEDs, the demand for efficient, reliable, and flexible driver solutions has increased significantly. The design demonstrates how automakers can integrate compact, energy-efficient LED solutions into modern vehicles while maintaining compliance with safety and performance standards.
The company has launched the TIDA-00816 reference design, which specifically targets LED-based automotive rear lighting applications. The design combines high-efficiency linear regulation with diagnostic and protection features, making it suitable for tail lamps, stop lamps, turn indicators, and fog lights. Built around the company’s proven power management and LED driver integrated circuits, the TIDA-00816 offers a ready-to-use platform that enables faster evaluation, prototyping, and adoption of LED lighting in both 12-V and 24-V automotive battery systems. This makes it especially relevant for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and two-wheelers where durability and energy efficiency are critical.
It supports multiple LED string configurations, providing flexibility for different lighting functions. By implementing low-dropout linear regulation, the solution minimizes power loss and reduces heat dissipation, helping designers eliminate bulky heat sinks in many applications. Integrated thermal shutdown and fold-back functions enhance system safety by preventing overheating, while built-in fault detection ensures reliable operation under challenging automotive conditions. The design also addresses electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements, making it easier for OEMs to meet global automotive regulations.
Typical applications include rear combination lamps (RCL), stop and tail lights, turn indicators, fog lamps, and other rear-vehicle LED lighting modules, providing a flexible solution for a wide range of automotive lighting needs. This scalable and modular architecture allows carmakers and Tier-1 suppliers to adapt the same design across different vehicle models and platforms, lowering overall development costs and time-to-market.
TI provides a complete package of resources along with the TIDA-00816 reference design. Engineers have access to detailed documentation, including the design guide, schematic diagrams, bill of materials (BOM), Gerber layout files, and test data. Application notes, performance reports, and evaluation results are available, enabling designers to thoroughly assess the design before moving to production. By offering a comprehensive set of design files and collateral, the company ensures that engineers can quickly implement the design into their projects. With its blend of efficiency, diagnostics, and robust protection features, the reference design serves as a practical blueprint for building next-generation, reliable, and cost-effective LED-based rear lighting systems for modern vehicles. For more information, click here.
