Gauge measures battery capacity in handheld PCs.
Share:
Press Release Summary:
Model LTC4150 bi-directional Coulomb counter monitors current through small sense resistor between battery and load or charger circuit. It indicates charge and discharge of battery through series of output pulses over single communication pin that can be counted by microcontroller. Supporting 1- or 2-cell LI-Ion and 3 to 6-cell NiCd or NiMH batteries, unit allows PDAs, cellular phones, and similar products to monitor state of battery charge or depletion.
Original Press Release:
Battery Gas Gauge Counts Charge & Discharge in Handheld PCs & Portable Products
MILPITAS, CA - October 6, 2003 - Linear Technology introduces the LTC4150, a bi-directional Coulomb counter designed to accurately measure battery capacity in handheld PC and portable product applications. The device monitors the current through a small sense resistor between the battery and its load or charger circuit. Since charge is the time integral of current, the LTC4150 indicates the charge and discharge of the battery through a series of output pulses over a single communication pin that can be counted by a microcontroller. This allows PDAs, cellular telephones and similar products to monitor the state of battery charge or depletion. It supports 1-cell or 2-cell Li-Ion and 3-cell to 6-cell NiCd or NiMH batteries.
Requiring only an external sense resistor and a filter capacitor, the LTC4150 in the 10-pin MSOP package provides a very compact and simple way to monitor battery charge activity. The device provides a series of output pulses and a polarity signal to the microcontroller. The system can then count down from the fully charged state and estimate the battery's remaining capacity at any time during the charging or discharging of the battery.
The LTC4150 is offered in the MSOP-10 package. Pricing starts at $1.50 each for 1,000 piece quantities.
Summary of Features: LTC4150
Indicates Charge Quantity and Polarity
±50mV Sense Voltage Range
Precision Timer Capacitor or Crystal Not Required
2.7V to 8.5V Operation
High Side Sense
32.55Hz/V Charge Count Frequency
1.5uA Shutdown Current
Available in 10-Pin MSOP Package
Company Background
Linear Technology Corporation was founded in 1981 as a manufacturer of high performance linear integrated circuits. Linear Technology products include operational, instrumentation and audio amplifiers; voltage regulators, power management devices, DC-DC converters and voltage references; comparators; monolithic filters; communications interface circuits; one-chip data acquisition sub-systems; pulse-width modulators and sample-and-hold devices; and high frequency devices. Applications for Linear Technology's high performance circuits include wireless and broadband telecommunications infrastructure, cellular telephones, networking products and satellite systems, notebook and desk top computers, computer peripherals, video/multimedia, industrial and medical instrumentation, automotive electronics, factory automation, process control, military and space systems, and high-end consumer products including digital cameras, MP3 players and other electronic products.
Note: LT, AND LTC are registered trademarks of Linear Technology Corp.
