Li-ion battery charger ICs are devices that regulate battery charging current and voltage, and are commonly used for portable devices, such as cellphones, laptops, and tablets. Compared to other battery chemistries, Li-ion batteries have one of the highest energy densities, provide a higher voltage per cell, can tolerate higher currents, and do not have to be trickle charged when the battery is fu...

In an era characterized by the internet of things (IoT), more connectivity means more outdoor devices are now battery-powered and constantly communicating. In particular, an increasing number of outdoor devices are being powered through solar panels. The charger should be suitable for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in outdoor designs with a solar panel. This article illustrates design tips fo...

Today’s consumers want to conveniently and quickly charge their portable devices anywhere, whether they are in a business center or shopping mall, or waiting for a flight or train. However, there are many different types of charging adapters and connectors, which can make determining which charger or chargers to have on hand confusing for the end user. If the consumer has to carry multiple d...

John B. Goodenough, considered the father of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, became the oldest Nobel Prize winner when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 for his pioneering work. Nowadays, Li-ion batteries are utilized in all aspects of life for most consumers since they make electronic devices lightweight and long-lasting. For example, most mobile phones rely on a Li-ion battery ...

To achieve compact design for battery-powered devices, the battery is usually not removable and the capacity is limited by the space reserved for the battery. As a result, the operation time of the device is a major concern as devices are built with more and more power-consuming functions. To improve the portability of battery-powered devices, another auxiliary charging device with greater battery...

For battery-powered applications, an excellent user experience depends on a long battery life and high-performance terminal devices. Quiescent current (IQ) is an important parameter to consider when optimizing these applications; in particular, an improved IQ increases battery life. This article will describe the difference between a boost converter’s IQ and shutdown current (ISD) to provide a de...

In June 2022, the EU parliament approved a mandate that will require the next generation of portable devices to be compatible with USB Type-C charging connectors. Manufacturers have until fall 2024 to make their products compatible with USB Type-C cables by adding a USB Type-C connector. Affected industries include mobile phones, digital cameras, handheld video game consoles, portable speakers, ke...

Rotary dials are used in diverse applications for human-machine interfaces (HMI). Touch interfaces include the buttons, knobs, and dials on everyday devices, from automobiles and white goods, to the touch screen on your mobile phone. These devices not only translate human input into an electrical signal, but they also provide an important feature — haptic feedback. This is especially useful for sa...

The design requirements of today’s switching power supplies are driven by efficiency requirements not only at full load, but also under sleep mode or no-load conditions when the cable is disconnected. Power system integrators have to meet new regulations from agencies such as Energy Star, 80 Plus, and the European Commission’s CoC, regardless of the power supply’s load condition....

The new surface-mounted power inductors from Monolithic Power Systems are designed for applications ranging from power supplies to power converters. The molded and semi-shielded series inductors include inductance ranges from 0.33µH to 22µH, and saturation current ranges from 0.8A to 64A. This series includes molded, magnetic-shielded power inductors that offer soft saturation due t...

The 5G telecom standard is intended to support the ever-increasing data volume requirements from smartphones and smart connected devices in markets such as home and industrial automation, autonomous vehicles, healthcare, and smart wearables. 5G enables many more data connections per base station by using what are called “massive multiple-input multiple-output” (massive-MIMO) antenna ar...