Microchip Introduces New Single-Chip Charger

Microchip Introduces New Single-Chip Charger

The new charger offers an intelligent charge management feature, which enables electronic devices to be simultaneously powered and charged via either an AC-to-DC adapter or through a USB port.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008: Microchip Technology has introduced the MCP73871 charge-management controller — a Li-Ion/Li-Polymer charger with an intelligent charge management feature that enables simultaneous AC-DC-adapter or USB-port charging and powering of devices. The single-chip charger features an integrated pass transistor, and numerous battery and termination-voltage options — making it suitable for complex, space-constrained portable applications.

With voltage regulation of 0.5 per cent, the new charger extends battery life by allowing the battery to be charged closer to its optimal limit. Additionally, with its integrated pass transistor, the charger eliminates the need for an external FET, and only a few small passive components are necessary. This results in smaller, less complex and less expensive designs.

“Our customers have requested a compact, single-chip charger to meet the needs of today’s advanced portable consumer-electronic devices, many of which now offer traditional wall-plug charging, plus USB port charging and connectivity,” said Bryan Liddiard, vice president, marketing, analogue and interface products division, Microchip. “The MCP73871 charger meets these needs, head on.”

The MCP73871 charge-management controller is ideal for portable consumer electronic products, such as GPS units, phone chargers, toys, cameras, PDAs, Bluetooth headsets and many more.

The MCP73871 charger is available in a 20-pin, 4 mm x 4 mm QFN package, for $1.28 each in 10,000-unit quantities.

Microchip also announced the MCP73871 Evaluation Board today (MCP73871EV), to help engineers get started using the new charger in their designs. Priced at $20, the board is available now