LED technology is becoming an increasingly popular choice for lighting up the headlights of modern cars as well as their displays and cockpits. Special resistors, from resistor manufacture such as Microhm Electronics, are necessary to make the diodes work properly.

 
LED (light emitting diode) technology provides automotive suppliers with a challenge: The rear part of the light unit leaves only little space for installation and the law requires a minimum brightness level. On top of that, LED chains must not emit different brightness levels and the technology has to withstand high temperatures up to 125 °C.
 
Consequently, resistors used in LED technology have to be very small, perform extremely well, be extraordinarily robust, highly stable and have a small tolerance. Microhm Electronics' MPR1206 resistors have the required specifications:
 
• AEC-Q200 certified
• Constant current up to 10 A (10 mOhm)
• 1 Watt permanent power up to 110 °C terminal temperature
• TCR ≤ 50 ppm/K
• High pulse loadability (1 W)
• High long-term stability (0.1 % drift in 2,000 h)
• Small size (1206; 3.2 x 1.6 mm)
• Component assembly: reflow and IR soldering