The MAX8709/MAX8709A integrated backlight controller are optimized to drive cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) using a resonant full-bridge inverter architecture. The resonant operation maximizes striking capability and provides near-sinusoidal waveforms over the entire input range to improve CCFL lifetime. The controller operates over a wide input voltage range of 4.6V to 28V with high power-to-light efficiency. The device also includes safety features that effectively protect against many single-point fault conditions including lamp-out and short-circuit faults. The MAX8709/MAX8709A achieve 10:1 dimming range by "chopping" the lamp current on and off using a digital pulse-width-modulation (DPWM) method. The minimum DPWM duty cycle of the MAX8709 is 9.375% and the minumum duty cycle of the MAX8709A is 12.5%. The brightness is controlled with a 2-wire SMBusTM-compatible interface. The device directly drives the four external N-channel power MOSFETs of the full-bridge inverter. An internal 5.3V linear regulator powers the MOSFET drivers, the DPWM oscillator, and most of the internal circuitry. The MAX8709/MAX8709A are available in a space-saving 28-pin thin QFN package and operates over a -40C to +85C temperature range.