A Light Emitting Diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source mainly used in signalling and lighting applications. A LED consists of anode and cathode nodes. When current is applied in a forward direction, the LED emits light. The Organic LED (OLED) is the latest development in the field of LED technology. It is a special type of LED which has a layer of organic compound. The advantage of the LED is its efficiency. It occupies a small area, consumes less power and lasts for a long duration.
In recent years there has been a surge in demand for LEDs and this translates into a rise in demand for LED controllers. PLDs and FPGAs offer an ideal solution for LED controllers as they can be easily programmed and reprogrammed for different functions. Thus a PLD and FPGA implementation for a LED controller helps designers make efficient use of LEDs.
The WISHBONE Bus interface is a free, open-source standard that is gaining popularity in digital systems that require the use of IP cores. This bus interface encourages IP reuse by defining a common interface among IP cores. That, in turn, provides portability for the system, speeds time to market, and reduces the cost of the end product.
This reference design is targeted for a LED controller to drive a GM1WA55311A LED device from Sharp Electronics. A typical application of this design includes the interface between a WISHBONE-compliant, on-board microcontroller and a LED device. This design can also be used as a reference to control other LEDs or OLEDs for similar functions.