New Industry Products

Maxim Offers 1.2MHz Multi-Chemistry Battery-Charger ICs

May 18, 2008 by Jeff Shepard

Maxim Integrated Products introduced the MAX17005/MAX17006/MAX17015 high-frequency, multichemistry battery-charger ICs. These devices employ a proprietary, high-frequency, current-mode architecture that is said to significantly reduce the cost and size of external components. Designed to operate at a high, 1.2MHz switching frequency, these ICs are said to enable the use of a smaller output filter than required by many other battery-charger ICs, thus reducing the size of the design and the BOM cost associated with the output filter.

Additionally, the company claims that this family of battery-charger ICs allows the use of n-channel power-selection switches instead of the more expensive p-channel power switches used by conventional solutions. The MAX17005/MAX17006/MAX17015 are well suited for notebook computers, tablet PCs, and other portable devices with rechargeable batteries.

The MAX17005 charges three to four cells with a cell voltage of 4.2 to 4.4V; the MAX17006 charges two to three cells with a cell voltage of 4.2 to 4.4V; and the MAX17015 adjusts the charge-voltage setting and number of cells through a feedback resistor-divider at the output. In addition, these devices provide a high-accuracy analog output that is proportional to the adapter current. In the MAX17015, current monitoring remains active to monitor the battery’s discharge current when the adapter is absent. All devices provide at least 4A of charge current with a 20mΩ sense resistor and overvoltage protection.

The MAX17005/MAX17006/MAX17015 are available in a small, 4 x 4 x 0.8mm, lead-free, 20-pin TQFN package and are fully specified over the -40 to +85°C extended-industrial temperature range.

Prices start at $5.66 (1000-up, FOB USA).