A linear LED driver uses linear, non-switching techniques to regulate the power to an LED or string(s) of LEDs. Linear LED drivers have generated considerable interest in the lighting industry because of their simple architecture, low noise operation, low parts count and reduced circuit size. However, in practice this technology is driving the LED lighting industry to a nasty extreme. The popularity of linear load regulation has been largely spurred by its cost advantage. Manufacturers of entry-level lighting products take this technology as a trump card to undercut their competitors. Today general lighting products that use bare-bones linear driver circuits have become a synonym for dirt cheap, low quality products. Every technology has its pros and cons. Linear driver topology can be a good fit for a number of lighting applications. The problem is that the industry takes this technology as a universal solution for driving down the cost of LED lights.
at the Open Lighting Product Directory (OLPD)
