TI Battery Management ICs Enable Safer, More Efficient Charging in Smart Phones, Portable Appliances

August 19, 2004

Providing increased power management functionality in smaller integrated circuits (ICs), Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) announced today two new families of single-chip, battery charge and power management ICs that provide safer, more efficient charging capabilities for single-cell lithium-ion (Li-Ion) applications.

The bqTINYTM III (or bq2403x) series of Li-Ion linear charge and system power path management devices is the latest advancement in TI´s bqTINY line of battery management charge ICs. In addition to integrated PowerFETs, high-voltage protection, current sensor, reverse-blocking protection, thermal regulation, high accuracy current and voltage regulation, the IC offers a dynamic power-path management (DPPM) feature.

The DPPM feature allows bqTINY III to power a smart phone, PDA, MP3 player or digital still camera while independently charging the battery. It autonomously selects the USB port or the AC adapter as the power source for the system when either input source is connected. In the absence of input sources, the bqTINY III powers the system from the battery through an integrated low RDSon power FET. The IC ensures a continuous and uninterrupted flow of power to the system, while reducing the number of charge and discharge cycles on the battery. The DPPM feature in bqTINY III also allows the system to power up with a defective or fully discharged battery pack.

First Single-Chip Charge IC and DC/DC Converter

In addition to the bqTINY III family, TI´s new bq2501x integrated charge and power management devices combine a battery charge IC with a low-power, highly efficient synchronous DC/DC conversion IC on a single chip to support space-limited, Li-Ion powered portable applications, such as Bluetooth headsets and accessories.

The bq2501x devices provide an integrated PowerFET, current sensor, reverse blocking protection and intelligent battery management features such as an automatic sleep mode. In addition, the new devices integrate a 150-mA DC/DC converter that provides up to 95 percent power conversion efficiency and can operate directly from a single-cell Li-Ion or Li-Poly battery. The output voltage is either adjustable (bq25010), or fixed at 3.3 V (bq25011), or at 1.8 V (bq25012).

Available Today

bqTINY III is in volume production from TI and its authorized distributors. The bq2501x family of battery charge and power management ICs is currently sampling with volume production scheduled for the fourth quarter, 2004. All bqTINY III devices are packaged in a small, 3.5 mm x 4.5 mm QFN package, and are priced at $2.30 each in quantities of 1,000 units. The bq2501x devices come in a 20-pin, MLP package (3.5 mm x 4. 5 mm) and are priced at $2.05 each in quantities of 1,000. Evaluation modules, application notes and TI´s VIP selection tool are available through power.ti.com.