Linear Technology Intros LT1769 Battery Charger IC

Linear Technology Corp. (Milpitas, CA) introduced its LT1769 switch-mode battery charger IC, packaged in a thermally enhanced 20-lead TSSOP, which improves heat dissipation resulting in lower junction temperature while delivering 2A of current. The company also claims that the device has a charging efficiency of >87 percent without requiring external MOSFETs. The LT1769 is used to charge lithium-ion, sealed lead-acid, NiCd and NiMH batteries with voltages ranging from 1V to 20V in applications such as notebook PCs, Webpads and portable instruments.

The device also offers a current-limit feature that allows the charging of battery packs while the rest of the system is being used without overloading the wall adapter. The LT1769 operates over an input supply range of 7V to 28V. It provides precision battery charging with 0.5-percent voltage and 5-percent charge accuracy. The IC automatically shuts down to conserve power when the wall adapter is removed. The charger also features a programmable charge current via DAC or resistor and a 200kHz switching frequency that permits the use of small inductors.