Three-in-one battery charger claims lowest quiescent current

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

A new switching battery charger IC from Texas Instruments (TI) supports a termination current of 20 mA, compared to competing devices that typically support higher than 60 mA. This enables a 7% higher battery capacity and longer run time, and can double the shelf life of ready-to-use electronics by reducing the battery leakage down to 6 µA in ship mode.

The new BQ25619 charger’s settable top-off timer further increases run time, enabling users to charge their devices less frequently. The device consumes only 10 µA while in battery-only operation to support standby systems, and offers 95% efficiency at a 4.6-V and 0.5-A output.

In addition, the battery charger delivers three-in-one boost converter integration and ultra-fast charging. The device integrates a charge, boost converter, and voltage protection, while eliminating the need for an external inductor. It also requires just a single power device due to its integrated bidirectional buck or boost topology.

Target applications include medical and personal electronics devices such as hearing aids, earbuds and wireless charging cases, IP network cameras, patient monitoring devices, and personal care applications.

The BQ25619  is available now through the TI store and authorized distributors. Offered in a 24-pin wafer quad flatpack no-lead (WQFN) package, the charger is priced at $1.45 in quantities of 1,000. The 30-pin BQ25618, with similar features, will be offered in a smaller wafer chip-scale package (WCSP) in the third quarter of 2019. An evaluation module, the BQ25619EVM, is available for $99.