NEW VISHAY SILICONIX BATTERY CHARGER IC WORKS WITH ALL COMMON BATTERY TYPES

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NEW VISHAY SILICONIX BATTERY CHARGER IC WORKS WITH ALL COMMON BATTERY TYPES
23 March 2001 - Vishay Electronic

A new microprocessor-controlled battery charger IC offering the industry's smallest footprint solution for this application, and eliminating the need for several external components, has been announced by Siliconix incorporated, an 80.4%-owned subsidiary of Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

Offered in a small-outline TSSOP-16 package with a 1.2-mm height profile, the new Si9731DQ works with system microprocessor or microcontroller of cell phones, PDAs, and other handheld appliances to provide a complete, chemistry-independent battery charger solution.

The Si9731DQ uses two internal power MOSFETs to provide trickle charging or fast charging depending on battery voltage at the beginning of the charge cycle. If battery voltage is below 3.4 V, the Si9731DQ detects the voltage from an ac adapter and initiates trickle charging until the battery voltage reaches a sufficient level to wake up the system microprocessor. Once activated, the microprocessor disables trickle charging and enables PWM-controlled fast charging via the Si9731DQ. Both the trickle-charge and fast-charge MOSFET components of the Si9731DQ provide bidirectional current blocking on the off state, eliminating the need for an external Schottky diode.

For maximizing the charge capacity of lithium ion batteries, the Si9731DQ integrates a precision reference and error amplifier to provide constant-voltage-mode charging to a 4.1-V or 4.2-V termination with 50-mV accuracy.

Since it uses a pulse charging technique with short on-times and long off-times, power dissipation is kept to a minimum, but unlike any competing solution, no external inductor is required. The Si9731DQ typically draws just 1 mA of current in normal mode and a maximum of 1 mA of current in shutdown mode - an order of magnitude improvement over competing solutions.

Because the Si9731DQ is microprocessor controlled, it gives designers maximum flexibility - allowing the same IC to be used for lithium ion or nickel battery designs, different charger types, different charging algorithms, and different power management architectures. As for power efficiency, the closest competing solution draws eight times the current in normal mode and 12 times the current in shutdown mode.

The Si9731DQ can be used in conjunction with a regulated or unregulated external dc power source, including most low-cost wall adapters rated from 4.5 to 12 V.

Samples of the Si9731DQ are available now. Production quantities are available now with lead times of 10 to 12 weeks for larger orders.

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About: Vishay Electronic
Vishay Transducers is a division of Vishay Measurements Group. Vishay Measurements Group develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of sensors for a wide variety of test and measurement applications. These include electrical resistance strain gages for both stress analysis testing and transducer manufacturing applications, load cells for approved weighing applications, force transducers, instrumentation, hybrid strain gage assemblies and bonding services.

Vishay, a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, optoelectronics, and selected ICs) and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transducers). The Company's components can be found in products manufactured in a very broad range of industries worldwide. Vishay is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and has operations in 17 countries employing over 26,000 people.

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