Single- and dual-cell Li-Ion & LiFePO4 chargers with OVP from Microchip Technology enable safer, longer-lasting portable devices

Chargers feature overvoltage protection,
high-accuracy voltage regulation and integrated pass transistor

NEW DELHI ,Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, has announced two families of charge-management controllers featuring Overvoltage Protection (OVP), which prevents overheating and damage to the battery-charger circuit from input-voltage spikes. The MCP73113, MCP73114 and MCP73213 Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion); and MCP73123, MCP73223 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Chargers feature high-accuracy voltage regulation and an integrated pass transistor. The combination of features enables smaller, safer portable electronic device designs with longer run times for the consumer, medical and industrial markets.

Microchip’s new chargers address increased consumer focus on the safety and efficiency of battery-powered applications. All of the new devices have a maximum input voltage of 18V and come with one of two OVP set points – 5.8V and 6.5V for the single-cell MCP73114 and MCP73113/23 chargers; or 13V for the dual-cell MCP73213 and MCP73123 chargers. Additionally, the MCP73113, MCP73114 and MCP73213 devices provide a variety of charging-voltage options for Li-Ion batteries – 4.1 to 4.4V for the single-cell and 8.2 to 8.8V for the dual-cell devices. The MCP73123 and MCP73223 devices target LiFePO4 batteries, and offer charging-voltage options of 3.6 and 7.2V, respectively.

“The MCP731XX and MCP732XX battery chargers address customers’ needs for simple, efficient charging solutions, while adding an extra layer of safety in the form of overvoltage protection,” said Bryan Liddiard, marketing vice president of Microchip’s Analog and Interface Products Division. “Microchip also addresses the evolving battery market by providing a variant for charging the up-and-coming LiFePO4 battery chemistry.”

The MCP73113 and MCP73114 Li-Ion, and MCP73123 LiFePO4 single-cell chargers feature high-accuracy voltage regulation of 0.5%; the dual-cell MCP73213 Li-Ion and MCP73223 LiFePO4 devices 0.6%. These highly accurate levels of regulation enable longer battery life per charge, ultimately allowing portable products to run for longer periods of time between charges. Additionally, all of the chargers feature an integrated pass transistor, which eliminates the need for an external FET, and reduces overall design cost, size and complexity.

With their unique combination of features and chemistry, the new chargers are ideal for devices in the consumer (e.g. GPS units, portable media players, phone chargers, toys, photo and video cameras, Bluetooth headsets); medical (e.g. portable glucose meters, blood-pressure and heart-rate monitors); and industrial markets (e.g. point-of-sale terminals, handheld barcode scanners and other portable devices).

Development tool support

Microchip also announced two evaluation boards, to support the new chargers. The MCP73113 OVP Single-Cell Li-Ion Battery Charger Evaluation Board (part # MCP73113EV-1SOVP) provides users with a platform to test the basic functionality of single-cell Li-Ion battery charging at 4.2V, with 6.5V overvoltage protection. The MCP73213 Evaluation Board (part # MCP73213EV-2SOVP) enables users to test the basic functionality of a dual-cell Li-Ion battery charging at 8.4V, with 13V overvoltage protection. The boards can be purchased at http://www.microchipDIRECT.com.

Additionally, Microchip offers Application Note # AN1276, “Design A Low-Cost Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Battery Charger with MCP73123.” The note can be downloaded from http://www.microchip.com/Battery.

Packaging & availability

The MCP731XX and MCP732XX chargers are all available in 10-pin, 3 mm x 3 mm DFN packages. Samples of all of the chargers can be ordered at http://sample.microchip.com, and the devices can be purchased in volume at http://www.microchipDIRECT.com. For further information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorised worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip’s Web site at http://www.microchip.com/Battery.

Microchip customer support

Microchip is committed to supporting its customers by helping design engineers develop products faster and more efficiently. Customers can access four main service areas at http://www.microchip.com. The Support area provides a fast way to get questions answered; the Sample area offers evaluation samples of any Microchip device; microchipDIRECT provides 24-hour pricing, ordering, inventory and credit for convenient purchasing of all Microchip devices and development tools; finally, the Training area educates customers through webinars, sign-ups for local seminar and workshop courses, and information about the annual MASTERs events held throughout the world.

About Microchip Technology

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Ariz., Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at http://www.microchip.com.