Batteries shrink into IC packages

Application specific solid energy technology (ASSET) thin-film rechargeable batteries can be customised in physical size and energy capacity to fit on or within IC packages.

Cymbet Corp is introducing application specific solid energy technology (ASSET), thin-film rechargeable batteries that can be customised in physical size and energy capacity to fit on or within integrated circuit packages with little or no impact to IC package profile.

Because of its slim design, the battery can be custom made to fit virtually any physical size required by the circuit or system design, thereby eliminating the need for bulky battery compartments.

The battery can be a stand-alone power source on a flexible or rigid substrate, or fabricated on the circuit or device that it is intended to power, such as on the lid of an integrated circuit, or on the surface of a printed circuit board.

The batteries are designed to satisfy applications such as nonvolatile SRAMs, real-time clocks and supply supervisors, active RFID tags, and nanotechnology devices, where a small, localised, low energy power source is required.

The nominal cell voltage is 3.8V, with capacities ranging from several microampere-hours to several milliampere-hours, depending on the desired footprint and discharge current requirements.

Total cell thickness can be as thin as 25um.

The cells are capable of greater than 10,000 deep charge and discharge cycles and operate over a temperature range of -40 to +120C.

As the totally solid state battery is able to withstand solder reflow temperatures, it can be surface mounted along with other electronic components on high volume manufacturing lines.

As William N Priesmeyer, Cymbet Corp CEO, notes, "The availability of a flexible and reliable power source is perennially a problem for engineers.

The Cymbet ASSET battery technology provides a power solution with flexible form factors.

Even more importantly, this exciting new technology will enable new applications and new products never before imagined".

According to James R Sullivan, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Cymbet Corp, "In many advanced portable electronic devices the most troubling component had been the battery.

The Cymbet ASSET battery makes it possible to apply a custom battery to virtually any surface.

This means designers will be able to make a rechargeable battery a permanent part of the enclosure, circuit, or even the device itself".

(This was Electronicstalk's Top Story on 17 October 2002).

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