Microchip Technology Debuts MCP73831 Battery Charger
Microchip Technology Inc. (Chandler, AZ), a provider of microcontroller (MCU) and analog semiconductors, announced the expansion of its analog power-management family with the MCP73831 battery charger — a fully integrated, single-cell, lithium-ion/lithium-polymer, charge-management controller. Equipped with a pass transistor, current sense, and reverse-discharge protection, the MCP73831 charger reduces the number of components needed for battery-charger designs. Its pre-set voltage regulation (maximum accuracy 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent) results in fully charged batteries and extended battery life. The device's SOT-23 five-pin and miniature 2 mm x 3 mm eight-pin, thermally enhanced, DFN packages enable small, smart charger designs for a wide variety of portable consumer devices such as wireless Bluetooth headsets, MP3 players, and digital cameras.
The MCP73831 charge-management controller includes a pass transistor, current sense, and reverse-discharge protection on a single chip, and it reduces the number of system components needed for battery-charger designs, thereby lowering overall system costs. The integrated charger provides accurate output-voltage regulation, with a maximum accuracy of 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent, resulting in effectively charged batteries with longer life. The thermally efficient DFN package option allows high charging currents of up to 500 mA for faster charging. The controller also features on-chip thermal regulation that decreases charge current when temperatures become too hot, thus preventing damage to the integrated circuit. Further, the MCP73831's charge current is user-programmable, enabling designers to customize charging currents for specific applications.
Another key feature of the MCP73831 charger is its simple status output pin that directly drives single or multi-color light-emitting diodes. The charger also supports multiple regulation voltage outputs, making it an effective charging solution for many types of lithium-ion battery technologies. The MCP73831 is suitable for battery-powered consumer applications requiring small size and thermal regulation, such as wireless headsets, MP3 players, and digital cameras.
Microchip offers the MCP73831EV Evaluation Board for $45 to support the development of battery charger applications using the MCP73831 charger. The board will be available on December 1, 2005. The MCP73831 battery charger is offered in a five-pin SOT-23 package for $0.70 each in 10,000-unit quantities. The charger is also offered in the thermally enhanced, 2 mm x 3 mm, eight-pin DFN package for $0.77 each in 10,000-unit quantities. The MCP73831 is now available for sampling and volume production.
