Press Release of the day

Drew Ehrlich over at Maxim sent me a press release a couple days ago.  It was for the MAX16806 LED Driver.  Now, there is some un-named, un-loved product manager over at Maxim that deserves a pat on the forehead and a cookie.  The very start of the press release said: “The MAX16806 is the first linear LED driver…”  Man the person that put the fact that it was a linear controller, and right up front, he is one dude.  See, if I were to look at the data sheet, it has PWM inputs and waveforms.  I would assume it is a PWM regulator.  After all, Maxim is famous for having some great ones.  But knowing it is a linear regular can keep you out of some big trouble.  See, the part has a 40 volt input.  That is so it can be used in an car and not blow up from the surges.  But the part is meant to be used on 12 volts (13.75 to 14.2 in my book).  If you ran it on 40 volts you might exceed the power dissipation of the chip.  Bad mojo indeed.  It is good to be tipped off that this was a linear regulator.  Be careful you don’t make the same mistake I almost did.  And thanks Unknown Soldier at Maxim.  You know what is important, and what is analog anyway but a sense of what is important?