The MAX4990E high-voltage ¡À15-kV ESD-protected, dc/ac converter drives electroluminescent (EL) lamps. It uses an inductor-based boost converter to generate a high 250-Vp-p voltage for maximum EL lamp brightness. The converter provides resistor-adjustable slew-rate control for audible-noise reduction, capacitor-adjustable switching frequencies, and multiple options for controlling the output voltage.

The converter features an acoustic-noise-reduction circuit that controls the slew rate of the ac voltage and reduces audible noise from an EL lamp. It features a 2.4 to 5.5-V supply-voltage range and accepts Li-ion battery and battery charger sources. The device is available in a 3 x 3-mm 14-pin TDFN package.