The MAX6978 serial-interfaced LED driver provides eight open-drain, constant-current sinking LED driver outputs rated at 5.5V. The MAX6978 operates from a 3V to 5.5V supply. The MAX6978 supply and the LEDs' supply can power up in any order. The constant-current outputs are programmed together to up to 55mA using a single external resistor. The MAX6978 operates with a 25Mb, industry-standard, 4-wire serial interface. The MAX6978 includes circuitry that automatically detects open-circuit LEDs. Fault status is loaded into the serial-interface shift register when LE goes high and is automatically shifted out on DOUT when the next data transmission is shifted in.