Li-Ion Charger Dissipates Little Heat

Boasting of 94% less heat generation than comparable devices, the LTC4052 standalone, pulse charger for single-cell Li-Ion/Li-Pol batteries dissipates approximately 280 mW while fast charging at 0.8A from a 5.2V input source. By contrast, similar chargers are said to dissipate up to 1.8W typical. The new device features an inductor-less design and comes in a 10-lead MSOP measuring less than 1.7 mm in height. It includes over-current protection and requires a current-limited wall adapter to control the level of charge current. The fully integrated pulse charger requires no external MOSFET or blocking diode and operates from a 4.5V to 12V input source with a 1% float voltage accuracy. Other integrated features include a 0.35? NMOS switch, sense resistor, and a programmable charge-termination timer. Price starts at $1.85 each/1,000. LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORP., Milpitas, CA. (800) 454-6327.