Microchip Technology Debuts USB/AC Load-Sharing Li-Ion/Li-Polymer Battery Charger

With highly accurate voltage regulation of 0.5%, 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.

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. Microchip is also announcing the MCP73871 Evaluation Board (Part # MCP73871EV), to help engineers get started using the new charger in their designs.