Microchip launches new chargers featuring OVP

By siliconindia   |   Wednesday, 26 August 2009, 17:22 IST
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Bangalore: Microchip, the provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors has unveiled 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 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'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. The MCP73113 and MCP73114 Li-Ion, and MCP73123 LiFePO4 single-cell chargers feature voltage regulation of 0.5 percent; the dual-cell MCP73213 Li-Ion and MCP73223 LiFePO4 devices 0.6 percent. The company claims that these accurate levels of regulation enable longer battery life per charge, ultimately allowing portable products to run for longer periods of time between charges. With their combination of features and chemistry, the new chargers can be used for devices in the consumer market like portable media players, phone chargers, toys and Bluetooth headsets; medical devices such as portable glucose meters, blood-pressure and heart-rate monitors; and in industries for point-of-sale terminals, handheld barcode scanners and other portable devices.

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