Compact Constant-Current LED Driver — LED2000 Reference Build

Compact Constant-Current LED Driver LED2000 Reference Build

SRCo-RD-223 is an engineering development project focused on creating a compact, adjustable LED task luminaire built around the Bridgelux Vero 13 LED platform.

The current design direction uses a tall single mast, a long adjustable boom, a compact lamp head, a base swivel, a primary friction pivot, and independent head tilt. The goal is a simple architectural task light with reliable dimming, serviceable construction, and a clean mechanical form.

This project began as an investigation into flicker and reliability problems in an existing low-voltage task light. That investigation developed into a broader effort to understand how a more robust and serviceable task luminaire could be designed.

Project overview:

SRCo-RD-223 combines mechanical, optical, electrical, and control-system development into one task-luminaire project.

The current work includes:

• Bridgelux Vero 13 LED evaluation
• LED optics and beam-shaping work
• Adjustable mast, boom, and pivot architecture
• Low-voltage power and LED-driver architecture
• Brightness and mode controls
• Internal wiring and strain relief
• Thermal and mechanical packaging
• Two documented LED-driver reference builds

Current engineering work:

• Two STMicroelectronics reference designs are being reproduced and evaluated as part of the electrical development work.
• The first uses the LED2000 constant-current buck driver and is being used as a low-voltage learning and reference build.
• The second uses the ALED6001 boost-controller architecture and is the more relevant reference path for studying how a low-voltage source can drive a Vero-class LED load.
• These boards are engineering reference reproductions. They are not claimed as original SRCo circuit designs.

Why PCB fabrication matters:

• Much of the component sourcing work is already underway through manufacturer engineering-sample programs.
• Current sourcing includes components from STMicroelectronics, Coilcraft, Murata, Bourns, and other manufacturers being evaluated for the project.
• The next important step is to move the reference builds from documentation and sourcing into physical hardware.
• Professionally fabricated PCBs would allow the boards to be assembled, powered, tested, photographed, and evaluated under controlled conditions.
• PCBWay sponsorship would directly support that transition from engineering analysis into physical prototype testing.

What I plan to evaluate:

Once the reference boards are assembled, I plan to document:

• Initial power-up
• Constant-current operation
• PWM dimming behavior
• Electrical performance
• Thermal behavior
• Component substitutions
• Assembly and rework
• Physical PCB quality
• Serviceability considerations
• How the results influence the final SRCo-RD-223 task-luminaire architecture
• The ALED6001 reference build is especially important because it provides a practical boost-driver architecture relevant to the voltage required by the Bridgelux Vero 13.
• The LED2000 build remains valuable as a lower-voltage buck-driver reference and learning platform, but it is not intended to directly power the Vero 13 from a 12 V source.

Project development approach:

The goal is not simply to reproduce a manufacturer reference board.

The reference builds are being used as controlled engineering evidence within a larger product-development process.

Reference design → component sourcing → PCB fabrication → assembly → electrical and thermal testing → comparison of component alternatives → engineering findings → SRCo-RD-223 design decisions

This keeps the source design, test results, substitutions, and later original SRCo engineering work clearly separated and traceable.

Expected project documentation:

If the boards are fabricated, the project record will include:

• PCB photographs
• Assembly photographs
• Populated-board documentation
• Component and BOM records
• Test setup photographs
• Initial power-up results
• Dimming observations
• Thermal observations
• Component-substitution findings
• Problems encountered during assembly or testing
• Lessons learned from reproducing the reference designs
• The relationship of those findings to the final Vero 13 task lamp

Design provenance:

• STMicroelectronics remains the source of the original LED2000 and ALED6001 reference circuits and associated published design documentation.
• This project does not claim authorship of those manufacturer reference designs.
• Any later SRCo-developed PCB, circuit, control system, mechanical structure, or other engineering work will be documented separately and clearly distinguished from the original manufacturer reference material.

Project goal:

The larger goal of SRCo-RD-223 is to develop a compact, adjustable Vero 13 task luminaire with reliable lighting performance, practical dimming and controls, serviceable construction, and a simple mechanical design.

PCBWay support would help move an important part of that work from documented engineering analysis into real, testable hardware.