Designers of mobile and portable devices powered by lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, such as wearables, electric bicycles, power tools, and Internet of Things (IoT) products, can enhance the end-user experience by extending runtime and delivering the most accurate battery state of charge (SOC) data in the industry with Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.'s MAX17262 single-cell and MAX17263 mono/multi-cell power measurement ICs.The MAX17262 features a quiescent current of only 5.2 μA, the lowest in its class, along with integrated current sensing. The MAX17263 features a quiescent current of only 8.2 μA and controls 3 to 12 LEDs to indicate battery or system status, useful in rugged applications that lack a display.
The MAX17262 and MAX17263 combine traditional coulomb counting with the innovative ModelGauge™ m5 EZ algorithm for high-precision battery SOCs without requiring battery characterization. With their low quiescent current, both power measurement ICs minimize current consumption during extended device standby times, extending battery life. Both also feature a dynamic power function that enables the highest possible system performance without draining the battery. In the MAX17262, an integrated RSENSE current resistor eliminates the need for a larger, discrete component, simplifying and reducing the board design. In the MAX17263, the integrated push-button LED driver further minimizes power consumption and prevents the microcontroller from having to manage this function.
Key Advantages
: High Accuracy: Integrated circuits provide accurate discharge time, full time, SOC (1 percent), and mAh data across a wide range of charging and temperature conditions, using the proven ModelGauge m5 algorithm.
Fast Time to Market: The EG ModelGauge m5 algorithm eliminates the time-consuming battery calibration and characterization process.
Extended Run Time: Quiescent current of only 5.2 μA for the MAX17262 and 15/8.2 μA for the MAX17263 extends run time.
Integration: The internal current-sensing resistor (voltage and coulomb count hybrid) in the MAX17262 reduces the overall footprint and BOM cost, simplifying board design. It measures up to 3.1 A and is suitable for batteries from 100 mAh to 6 Ah capacity. For applications using higher currents or battery capacities outside this range, the MAX17263, or the recently released MAX17260, can be used with an external current-sensing resistor of any size.
Small size: With an IC size of 1.5 mm × 1.5 mm, the MAX17262 implementation is 30 percent smaller compared to using a discrete current-sensing resistor with an alternative fuel gauge; at 3 mm × 3 mm, the MAX17263 is the smallest in its class for lithium-ion devices.
LED support: The single/multicell MAX17263 also drives LEDs to indicate battery status at the press of a button or system status at the command of the system microcontroller.
