Linear Technology Debuts LTC1960 Battery Charger

Linear Technology Corp. (Milpitas, CA) announced the LTC1960, a battery charger and selector IC with SPI interface and power crisis management features, making them ideal for dual-battery systems. This IC is said to replace existing multiple-IC offerings and requires less than half the number of external supporting discrete components over current solutions.

The charger/selector delivers extended run time, short charging time and fast response time to power interruption. A serial SPI interface simplifies communication with an external microcontroller for control and system monitoring. The device is housed in a narrow 36-lead SSOP, and is claimed to allow the most compact solution for dual-battery notebook PCs and portable instruments.

The IC's PowerPath architecture allows it to automatically switch between power sources in <10ms to prevent power interruption upon battery or wall adapter removal. The synchronous buck battery charger delivers 95 percent efficiency with only 0.5V dropout. It also prevents audible noise in all operating modes. Patented input current limiting, with five percent accuracy, charges batteries in a short time, without overloading the wall adapter.

The LTC1960 is priced from $6.95 each in 1,000-piece quantities.