highpowerZONE Products for the week of June 11, 2012

Summit Microelectronics Says…

SMB349/SMB359: 4 A Charger ICs Offer Universal Input/Ultra-fast Charging Safety
FlexCharge automatic power source detection and input voltage detection

Summit Microelectronics has introduced the industry’s first monolithic 4A Li-Ion battery charger integrated circuits (ICs). The SMB349 and SMB359 are fully configurable and can deliver up to 4A charging/system current while accepting a wide +3.6 to +16V input voltage range. The SMB349 incorporates CurrentPath technology with dual system/battery outputs (for instant-on with discharged or missing battery), while the SMB359 provides a single output. Both products include Summit’s FlexCharge automatic power source detection and patented FlexCharge+ automatic input voltage detection technologies to support universal USB/AC battery charging and comply with industry standard like USB2.0/3.0/BC1.2.  Also Summit’s patented TurboCharge high-efficiency switch-mode charger, TurboCharge+ automatic float voltage compensation and OptiCharge automatic input current limit technologies, combined with SafeCharge JEITA/IEEE1725 battery safety support, optimize the solution and provide the industry’s fastest, safest battery charging.

EN-Genius Says…

The SMB349 and SM359 are high-capacity battery charger ICs for Lithium-Ion and Lithium-polymer cells with both USB and ac input capability. The difference between the two products is that the SMB359 provides a single output while the SMB349 has two outputs that can independently power the system whilst also charging the battery.

Both parts have a 4 A current limit with an input current limit that is, like many features in the products, programmable. Automatic float voltage compensation and power source detection are provided. A turbo mode allows up to 750 mA charging from a 500 mA USB 5 V nominal source while a 50 mA auxiliary output allows operation for deeply discharged or missing cells. The ac input can be programmed for current limits from 500 mA to 3.5 A.

JEITA and JISC 8714 support are programmable while the switching frequency can be set to 750 kHz, 1 MHz, 1.5 MHz, or 3 MHz. The higher the frequency, of course, the smaller will be the external components. External capacitors can be ceramics. The maximum input voltage rating is +20 V with full operation allowed from +4.35 V to +10 V.

Programming is provided on the I2C bus and the system can optionally be connected to the bus as well. Summit’s normal hex file programming capability for non-volatile configuration is provided for delivered units.

Status/lamp indicators are available as are safety timers. There is battery and thermal protection as well as over-current, undervoltage and overvoltage protection. With efficiencies better than 90% heat considerations for the charging function should be minimal.

Summit continues to provide unique battery charger ICs for the portable product market. The SMB349 and SMB359 further their family of successful and proven products and they are capable of providing extremely safe operation for the charging functions. There should be numerous high-volume applications to be found in smartphones, digital camcorders, and portable media players.

The operating temperature range of both the SMB349 and SMB359 is -30ºC to +85ºC. Both are in production in 49-ball CSP and QFN-40 with prices of $1.62 and $1.82, respectively, both in 10-k piece lots.

Product Page SMB349 
Product Page SMB359