Compact Li-ion Battery Protection for Wearables and Mobile Devices

Nisshinbo Micro Devices has introduced two new 1-cell Li-ion battery protection ICs, the NB7123 and NB7130, with a focus on enhancing the safety, accuracy, and compactness of portable electronics. These ICs, housed in ultra-small WLCSP packages, are specifically targeted at applications such as hearing aids, wearables, smartphones, and handheld terminals, catering to the growing demand for smaller and more reliable components in the electronics industry.

For engineers and designers working on ultra-compact, battery-powered devices, the NB7123 and NB7130 offer not only a reduced footprint but also improved reliability and protective features that can help meet the increasingly stringent safety standards for consumer and medical electronics. These new ICs are designed to address the challenges of managing Li-ion cells in compact and high-density devices, providing a comprehensive set of protection functions to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the battery.

Enhanced Battery Protection Accuracy

One of the key highlights of the NB7123 and NB7130 is the enhanced accuracy of the protection functions they offer. These ICs come equipped with a range of protection features, including overcharge and over-discharge voltage detection, overcurrent protection, and short circuit detection, all of which are crucial for maintaining the integrity and longevity of the battery.

Nisshinbo has specifically focused on improving the accuracy of these protection mechanisms, allowing for precise monitoring of the battery voltage and current levels. This level of accuracy enables the ICs to operate closer to the limits without triggering false alarms, ultimately maximizing the battery life and performance of the device.

• The overcharge and over-discharge voltage detection is highly accurate, enabling optimal battery voltage operation without compromising safety.
• The overcurrent detection benefits from a low current sense voltage, resulting in better precision at high current levels and reduced heat dissipation.
• The high-resolution 0 V charging inhibition voltage, adjustable in 1 mV steps, prevents damage to deep-discharged batteries during recharging.
• The inclusion of a TIN pin for temperature monitoring adds an extra layer of protection against thermal events, enhancing the overall safety of the battery.

High-Side and Low-Side MOSFET Options

Another notable feature of the NB7123 is its support for high-side MOSFETs, which simplifies signal referencing by allowing the protection circuit to share a common ground with the system. Despite the inherent complexity of high-side switches, Nisshinbo has integrated a charge pump into the IC, eliminating the need for external components and streamlining the design process.

For applications that prefer low-side switching, the NB7130 offers the same level of protection functionality but is configured for use with low-side MOSFETs. Both variants support a Forced Standby Mode through a dedicated STB input, enabling significant power savings during idle periods and automatic wake-up upon charger detection, enhancing energy efficiency and user convenience.

Engineers and developers can now access the NB7123 and NB7130 in WLCSP-8-ZA2 and WLCSP-8-ZA1 packages, respectively. For detailed datasheets, design guides, and information on distribution channels, interested parties can visit Nisshinbo’s official product pages to explore the full capabilities and specifications of these innovative battery protection ICs.