by 
Dallas, Tex. – Texas Instruments (TI) launched a highly integrated battery management solution that features a linear charger, configurable LDO, load switch, buck converter, pushbutton control and battery voltage monitor in one solution. The bq25120 claims the industry’s lowest quiescent current (Iq) at 700 nA with the buck converter, operating at 1.8 V. The configurable load switch/LDO output optimizes the system by shutting off rarely used functions such as radios and displays to minimize battery drain, said TI.
The bq25120 supports batteries from 3.6-V to 4.65-V, and fast charge currents from 5 mA to 300 mA, allowing wearables and industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications to always be on without draining the battery, said TI. A host microprocessor, such as a TI host microprocessor or Bluetooth radio, such as TI’s SimpleLink Bluetooth Smart CC2640 wireless MCU, is able to continue running during recharging by not extracting “empty energy,” said TI. Designers can achieve the longest battery shelf life with the solution’s standby mode quiescent current of 50 nA.
The solution is housed in a 2.5-mm x 2.5-mm WCSP package, which enables a small footprint for wearable designs. For a more robust solution, TI said designers can incorporate the CC2640 wireless MCU, claimed as the industry’s smallest QFN package solution with integrated Flash for Bluetooth Smart.
Other features include an accurate charge termination down to 500 µA, and an I2C programming interface. The charge termination maximizes the energy delivered to the battery before completing the charging cycle, allowing batteries to draw a more robust full charge, while the I2C programming interface enables designers to set key parameters including battery charger voltage, current, termination threshold, input current limit, load switch control, flexible timer and reset options.
The bq25120 can be used in conjunction with devices to integrate more end application features, said TI. These include the ultra-low Iq step-down converter, the TPS62743, as additional buck output; the TPS61046, which offers a 12-V boost, and the TPS61240 with load connect, offering a 5-V boost for heart rate monitor or small displays.
Availability: The bq25120 charger is shipping in volume production and available through the TI Store and the company’s authorized distribution network.
Pricing: The bq25120 is priced at $1.60 in quantities of 1,000. The evaluation module (EVM) – the BQ25120EVM-731 - is available from the TI Store and authorized distributors for $99.
Resources:
- TI’s battery management solutions.
- Blog post: How can your wearable be smaller and last longer?
- Visit the TI E2E™ Community Battery Management forumto search for solutions, get help, share knowledge, and solve problems with fellow engineers and TI experts.
