60V Battery Charging Controller & Power Manager
Linear Technology Corporation introduces the LTC4000-1, a high voltage controller and power manager with input maximum power point control (MPPC) that converts virtually any externally compensated DC/DC power supply into a full-featured battery charger. The LTC4000-1 is capable of driving typical DC/DC converter topologies, including buck, boost, buck-boost, SEPIC, flyback and forward. The device offers precision input current monitoring and charge current monitoring and regulation. It operates across a wide 3V to 60V input and output voltage range, compatible with a variety of different input voltage sources, battery stacks and chemistries. The LTC4000-1’s MPPC circuit features an input voltage regulation loop that controls charge current to maintain the input voltage at a programmed level, ideal for solar panels or other high impedance sources. Applications include: high power battery charger systems, high performance portable instruments, battery backup systems, and industrial or military battery-equipped devices.
The LTC4000-1 features an intelligent PowerPath™ topology that preferentially provides power to the system load when input power is limited. The LTC4000-1 controls external PFETs to provide low loss reverse current protection, efficient charging and discharging of the battery, and instant-on operation to ensure that system power is available at plug-in, even with a deeply discharged battery. External sense resistors and precision sensing ensure accurate currents at high efficiency, allowing operation with converters that span the power range from milliwatts to kilowatts.
The LTC4000-1’s full-featured controller charges a variety of battery chemistries, including lithium-ion/polymer/phosphate, sealed lead acid (SLA), and nickel-based. The device provides charge status indicators through its FLT and CHRG pins. Other features of the battery charger include: ±0.2% programmable float voltage, selectable timer or C/X current termination, temperature-qualified charging using an NTC thermistor, automatic recharge, C/10 trickle charge for deeply discharged cells and bad battery detection.
The LTC4000-1 is housed in low profile (0.75mm) 28-pin 4mm x 5mm QFN and 28-lead SSOP packages. The device is guaranteed for operation from -40°C to 125°C. 1,000-piece pricing starts at $3.95 each.