Maxim Integrated Products today announced that it is sampling theMAX17048, presented as the industry's simplest low-power fuel gauge for Lithium-ion (Li+) batteries. Operating at only 23μA, this battery fuel gauge uses 4x less power than competitive devices and even less in micropower hibernate mode, in which the fuel gauge continues to operate. It needs only one external capacitor, not the multiple external devices of competitive devices, so it simplifies design, shrinks solution size by 3x, and reduces costs. This fuel gauge is ideal for portable battery-powered applications where size, cost, and po wer are critical, such as smartphones, wireless handsets, and mobile accessories, including Bluetooth® headsets, portable speakers, fitness devices, and Wi-Fi® routers. Traditional fuel gauge designs require multiple external components including current-sense resistors, which increase both bill of materials (BOM) cost and design complexity. Those fuel gauges also use coulomb counting, which can drift and affect the accuracy of the gauge over time. The MAX17048 features the proven ModelGauge™ algorithm and does not require coulomb counting to report accurate battery state-of-charge, thus extending runtime. The MAX17048 functionality is also integrated into the company's TINI® Power System-on-Chip (SoC) to make it easier to upgrade designs to more complex systems. The MAX17048 is available in an 8-bump WLP package (0.9 mm x 1.7 mm) and an 8-pin TDFN package (2 mm x 2 mm). Pricing starts at $1.12 (1000-up, FOB USA). Maxim Integrated
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