News

O2Micro Issued Key Battery Power Patent

September 18, 2001 by Jeff Shepard

O2Micro International Ltd. (Santa Clara, CA) has been granted 21 claims under US Patent number 6,285,161 for its balanced battery cell charging circuit.

O2Micro's balanced battery cell charging IC monitors voltages on each individual lithium-ion or lithium-polymer cell in a three- or four-cell battery pack. By individually adjusting the current to each cell, this new integrated circuit enhances safety and reliability, ensures no overcharging of battery cells, increases battery operating time, and enables faster charging, according to the firm. This technology is ideal for notebook computers or any system that uses multiple-cell rechargeable batteries.

"This patented invention solves the drawbacks of prior techniques used to charge systems that use lithium-ion or lithium-polymer rechargeable batteries," stated Jack Shyr, vice president of O2Micro's Intelligent Power Group. "This technology advances O2Micro in its goal to develop more efficient charging ICs for next-generation battery-operated systems."