MBI5171 exploits PrecisionDrive™ technology to enhance its output characteristics. Furthermore, MBI5171 uses the idea of Share-I-O™ technology to make MBI5171 backward compatible with MBI5168 in both package and electrical characteristics. In addition, MBI5171 extends its functionality to provide one Special Mode in which two functions are included, Error Detection and Current Gain Control, by means of the Share-I-O™ technique on pins LE and /OE , without any extra pins without adding any extra pin and without changing the printed circuit board originally designed for conventional LED drivers.

MBI5171 contains an 8-channel shift register and an 8-bit output latch, which convert serial input data into parallel output format. At MBI5171 output stages, eight regulated current ports are designed to provide uniform and constant current sinks with small skew between ports for driving LEDs within a wide range of forward voltage (Vf) variations. The excellent output accuracy is within ±3% between channels and within ±6% between ICs. Users may adjust the output current from 5 mA to 120 mA with an external resistor Rext, which gives users flexibility in controlling the light intensity of LEDs. MBI5171 guarantees to endure maximum 17V at the output ports. Besides, the high clock frequency up to 25 MHz also satisfies the system requirements of high volume data transmission..