More protection for rechargeable batteries

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Mar 1, 2002

Seiko Instruments has released the first three- and four-serial-cell Li-ion battery protection ICs (BPICs) with three levels of overcurrent detection.

Seiko Instruments has released the first three- and four-serial-cell Li-ion battery protection ICs (BPICs) with three levels of overcurrent detection.

The S-8243A/B Series incorporates high-accuracy battery protection circuits, a battery monitor amp and a voltage regulator, cutting external component count and reducing board space by 50%.

Seiko's S-8243 BPIC has superior accuracy for overcharge (25mV), overdischarge (80mV) and overcurrent 1 (25mV) detection voltages.

Applications for the S-8243 include notebook computers, handheld scanners, and other portable electronic devices that use lithium-ion rechargeable battery packs.

In keeping with Seiko's requirement that all products be low current, the S-8243 consumes only 120uA while operating and only 0.1uA in power-down mode.

Housed in a 16-pin TSSOP package, the S-8243 measures only 5.1 x 6.4 x 1.1mm.

The S-8243A is designed for three-cell applications and the S-8243B for four-cell applications.

The S-8243 Series is available now and is priced at $1.50 each in quantities of 10,000 through a national network of authorised distributors, including All American and Mouser.

Samples are available for some versions in the series.

OMs.