News & Events
Intersil's Narrow VDC Battery Charger Controller Improves Efficiency and Extends Battery Life in Notebook Computers
— Intersil's ISL6257 Provides ±0.5% Charge Voltage Accuracy and a Programmable Charge Current Limit, Adapter Current Limit and Charge Voltage for Configuration to a Wide Range of Li-Ion/Li-Ion Polymer Battery Packs
MILPITAS, CA, January 17, 2007 Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog semiconductors, today introduced the ISL6257, a narrow VDC (voltage direct current) charger controller for Li-Ion/Li-Ion polymer batteries in notebook computers. This device is designed to meet the NVDC-I requirements for better efficiency and longer battery life.
The ISL6257, the only true narrow VDC charger controller on the market, offers the best overall accuracy and features narrow VDC output, which allows the system to operate from the regulated charger instead of the adapter. The use of the Vbat as the system voltage as opposed to the adapter allows the notebook to run at a maximum of 12.6V instead of adapter voltage, increasing the overall efficiency of the system and improving battery life and thermal management in the system.
"The ISL6257 is the only NVDC-I charger on the market that is optimized for this application, allowing customers to run their laptops at much lower battery voltages, said Majid Kafi, director of Intersils Notebook Power products group. This provides better efficiency, longer battery life and improved thermal management.
Improved Efficiency and Longer Battery Life
Intersils ISL6257 provides ±0.5% charge voltage accuracy (-10 degrees C to +100 degrees C) for precise charge voltage, increasing battery life. This device also provides a ±3% accurate battery charge current limit for precise charge current control, allowing the maximum charge rate and further extending battery life.
The ISL6257 provides a fixed 300kHz PWM (pulse width modulation) synchronous buck controller with diode emulation at light load. This constant frequency simplifies the design process. Diode emulation improves efficiency and prevents adapter voltage boosting. This feature is not present on many competitors parts.
The ISL6257 has a type III output voltage control system that allows the regulated output to respond quickly to transient loads with minimal change in output voltage. This reduces the power supply rejection requirements for all downstream power supplies. No other charger offers this feature.
The ISL6257 has a fast input current limit response to prevent over-current shutdown of the adapter. The devices input voltage range from 7V to 25V supports most adapters. The ISL6257 also supports 2-, 3- and 4-cell battery packs, which meets most notebook battery pack requirements.
A ±3% accurate input current limit provides precise input current and allows higher charge rates without exceeding the adapter current limit. This device also has a ±25% accurate battery trickle charge current limit.
Key Features
- ±0.5% charge voltage accuracy (-10°C to +100°C)
- ±3% accurate input current limit
- ±3% accurate battery charge current limit
- ±25% accurate battery trickle charge current limit
- Programmable charge current limit, adapter current limit and charge voltage
- Fixed 300kHz PWM synchronous buck controller with diode emulation at light load
- AC adapter present indicator
- Fast input current limit response
- Input voltage range 7V to 25V
- Support 2-, 3- and 4-cells battery packs
- Up to 17.64V battery-voltage set point
- Control adapter power source select MOSFET
- Thermal shutdown
- Aircraft power capable
- DC adapter present indicator
- Battery discharge MOSFET control
- Less than 10μA battery leakage current
- Support pulse charging
- Charge any battery chemistry: Li-Ion, NiCd, NiMH, etc.
- Pb-free plus anneal available (RoHS compliant)
Target Applications
- Notebook, desknote and sub-notebook computers
- Personal digital assistants
About Intersils Power Management Portfolio
Intersils high-performance analog ICs provide innovative power management
solutions for applications in the computing, communications, peripherals,
display, networking, telecommunications, industrial, instrumentation and
battery-powered products markets. Intersil is a leading supplier of PWM
controller ICs with over two billion units shipped. Intersil offers a broad
portfolio of power management ICs, including single and multiple output
switching regulators, integrated FET DC/DC controllers, battery management ICs,
hot plug controllers and power MOSFET drivers. To learn more, visit Intersils
Power Management page at
http://www.intersil.com/power.
Pricing and Availability
The ISL6257 is available now in a 28-lead QFN package and is priced at $3.42 in
1,000-unit quantities. For more information on the
ISL6257, visit
http://www.intersil.com/cda/deviceinfo/0,1477,ISL6257,0.html.
A large selection of power products is supported by Intersils iSim online
design tool. To explore these solutions, visit
http://www.intersil.com/isim/.
Note to editors: To view a high-resolution downloadable photo of the
ISL6257, visit Intersils photo room at:
http://www.intersil.com/pressroom/photoarchives.asp.
About Intersil
Intersil Corporation is a leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog semiconductors. The Company's products address some of the industry's fastest growing markets such as flat panel displays, cell phones, handheld products and notebook computing. Intersil’s product families address both power management and analog signal processing functions. Intersil products include ICs for battery management; hot-swap and hot-plug controllers; linear regulators; supervisory ICs; switching DC/DC regulators; power MOSFET drivers; optical storage laser diode drivers; DSL line drivers; video and high-performance operational amplifiers; data converters; interface ICs; analog switches and multiplexers; crosspoint switches; voice-over-IP devices; and ICs for military, space and radiation-hardened applications. For more information about Intersil or to find out how to become a member of our winning team, visit the Company's web site and career page at www.intersil.com.
iSim is a trademark of Intersil Americas, Inc. All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
