LTC Unveils New LTC4053 Linear Charger

Linear Technology Corp. (LTC, Milpitas, CA) introduced the LTC4053, a USB-compatible, linear charger for single-cell, lithium-ion/lithium-polymer batteries. The LTC4053 simplifies battery charger design in portable devices and features a seven-percent charge accuracy that can easily be switched from 100mA to 500mA, yet can deliver up to 1.25A of constant current when a wall adapter is present.

The LTC4053 does not depend on a microcontroller for charge monitoring, control or termination. The IC is fully integrated in a 10-lead, MSOP package so that external MOSFETs, sense resistors and blocking diodes are unnecessary. The end products that benefit from the LTC4053 include portable data-storage devices, hand-held test equipment, cell phones, digital cameras, printers and PDAs. The LTC4053 complies with all USB voltage and supply current requirements, and it operates from 4.25V to 6.5V and consumes only 1mA during charging and 25µA when in shutdown/standby mode. The LTC4053 has a low dropout voltage of only 37.5mV at 100mA and 187.5mV at 500mA.

Pricing for the LTC4053EMSE-4.2 begins at $1.90 each in 1,000-piece quantities.