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...

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 ...

Battery-powered applications have become commonplace over the last decade, and such devices require a certain level of protection to ensure safe usage. The battery management system (BMS) monitors the battery and possible fault conditions, preventing the battery from situations in which it can degrade, fade in capacity, or even potentially harm the user or surrounding environment. It is also the r...

When designing a battery management system (BMS), designers can face challenges when obtaining an accurate estimate of the battery’s state-of-charge (SoC), which is the level of a charge a battery has in relation to its capacity. This article is the second of a two-part series discussing SoC estimations. Part I explored the complex application of battery conditions in SoC estimation, as well one ...

With the dramatic improvement in battery performance, applications are increasingly utilizing battery packs to provide energy. In the battery management system (BMS), designers face the challenge of accurately estimating the battery’s state-of-charge (SoC), which is the level of charge a battery has in relation to its capacity. SoC is commonly represented as a percentage between 0% and 100%. A ba...

For the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, all Olympic venues used green electricity to promote the goal for carbon neutrality. Green electricity mainly comes from solar photovoltaic and wind power generation. Utilizing more renewable photovoltaic energy is an effective approach to reach the greenhouse gas pollution target by 2030. Photovoltaic cells have many subdivisions of applications, including...

The demand for fast charging has driven the unprecedented evolution of high-density adapters. In practical adapter designs, there are countless implementations of new switching power devices, topologies, and control schemes. With the introduction of these cutting-edge technologies, the power density of adapter products has significantly increased. 1W/cm3 is becoming the common density for high-de...

The HR1211 is an integrated, multi-mode PFC and current mode LLC controller solution that was designed to meet the power requirements of the fast-charge adapter market. To achieve a simplified peripheral circuit, the HR1211 integrates a high-voltage current source, a safety-certified X-capacitor discharge circuit, and high-voltage drive circuits for PFC and LLC. In addition, a capacitor resistor i...

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....

Before continuing to this article, make sure to read Live Digital Solutions for Efficient Power Supply Designs (Part I). MPS’s HR121x family of products are rich in digital and analog functions. These PFC + LLC combo controllers are highly integrated, and offer reduced power consumption that makes them well suited for standby power applications. They can work in either discontinuous conduct...

With the continued rapid development of various electronic products, high-efficiency power supply design requirements are continually evolving. The high-efficiency conversion circuits defined in textbooks can no longer meet the actual needs of the market, because achieving high efficiency under rated operating conditions is just one of the requirements. A truly competitive power supply design must...