Single-Chip Lithium-Ion Protector Provides Comprehensive Protection and Cell Balancing for 5- to 10-Cell Battery Packs

Most Comprehensive, Single-Chip Li+ Protection IC for 5- to 10-Cell Battery Pack

• The DS2726 is a stand-alone protection IC with integrated cell balancing for a 5- to 10-cell Li+ battery pack.
• This device saves both space and cost while providing designers a simple, elegant solution for battery-operated devices.
• The DS2726 enables the industry's simplest solution by integrating cell balancing with fault-monitoring, high-side p-channel FET drivers for accurate protection in a 7mm x 7mm TQFN package.
• Additionally, the device is configured without the need for an external microcontroller, further simplifying design and reducing cost.
• The DS2726 is a complete protector solution for power tools, e-bikes, portable household appliances, battery-backup systems, or any application with a 5- to 10-cell Li+ battery pack.

SUNNYVALE, CA—October 20, 2008—Maxim Integrated Products (NASDAQ: MXIM) introduces the DS2726, the industry's most comprehensive stand-alone protection IC with integrated cell balancing for 5- to 10-cell lithium-ion (Li+) battery packs. The only solution on the market that combines voltage and current monitoring with cell balancing in a single chip, the DS2726 provides an elegant, space-saving solution for battery-operated devices. It is thus an ideal protector for power tools, e-bikes, portable household appliances, battery-backup systems, or any application with a 5- to 10-cell Li+ battery pack.

The DS2726 employs high-side p-channel protection FETs to provide comprehensive overvoltage, undervoltage, discharge-current, and short-circuit protection. The protection circuit monitors individual cell voltages to detect overvoltage and undervoltage conditions. Additionally, high-side protection allows the host system to maintain communication with a fuel gauge, such as the DS2788, even when a fault condition causes the protection FETs to switch off.

To further simplify design and reduce cost, the DS2726 eliminates the need for an external microcontroller to configure the device. Voltage-protection and cell-balancing thresholds are pin programmable; overdischarge and short-circuit current limits are set with external resistors; and overdischarge and short-circuit current time-out delays are set with external capacitors.

This simple device thus provides robust protection while extending battery life by ensuring that all cells are equally charged. During cell balancing, internal switches shunt an industry-leading 150mA (typ) of current. For added flexibility, cell balancing can be enabled automatically on detection of a charger or by signaling a control pin.

The DS2726 is available in a space-saving, 7mm x 7mm, 32-pin TQFN package. Prices start at $4.58 (1000-up, FOB USA). Samples and evaluation kits are available to speed designs.

Maxim Integrated Products is a publicly traded company that designs, manufactures, and sells over $2 billion of high-performance semiconductor products annually. It was founded over 25 years ago with the mission to deliver innovative analog and mixed-signal engineering solutions that add value to its customers' products. To date, Maxim has developed over 5800 products serving the industrial, communications, consumer, and computing markets.