New Industry Products

Toshiba Launches 2.0A USB-Ready Li-Ion Charger IC that Fast Charges Portable Devices

February 05, 2013 by Jeff Shepard

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC) launched its first high-current USB ready Li-Ion battery charger integrated circuit (IC) with a fast charging current up to 2.0A. Toshiba's new TC7710WBG charger IC is manufactured in the company's advanced 0.13um mixed-signal process technology to achieve cost, power and form-factor efficiencies for optimum charging of batteries used in smartphones and mobile devices.

Today's rechargeable battery technology is lagging behind advancing processor technology. As such, current charger solutions require users to charge their smart phones and other mobile devices more frequently, or for longer periods of time. The Toshiba TC7710WBG charger IC solves this problem through its efficient switching regulator core that maximizes power efficiency, passive component sizes and thermal management for heat dissipation.

"The charging current capability, efficiency, and form factor of the TC7710WBG make it ideal for today's battery hungry mobile devices," said Andrew Burt, vice president of the Analog and Imaging Business Unit, System LSI Group at TAEC. "Toshiba will continue to leverage its advanced process technology and engineering expertise to deliver a family of charger ICs that keep pace with the unique battery requirements of smartphones and mobile devices, so end users can experience longer, more productive use time with these products."

The TC7710WBG leverages the Toshiba 0.13um mixed-signal process to achieve one of the lowest Rdson*Qg characteristics in the industry making the device well suited for demanding DC-DC converter applications where high-power density is needed. The new charger IC is designed with a highly efficient DC/DC buck regulator that handles up to 2.0A of charging current in a compact WCSP25 2.5mm x 2.5mm package. The 3MHz switching frequency is set high to reduce the passive components value and therefore their form factors, saving board real estate. The device can reach peak efficiency above 90 percent, again leveraging the Toshiba 0.13um mixed-signal technology.

Toshiba has designed theTC7710WBG to protect system and battery circuitry. The input current comes from a 5V USB adaptor and this voltage is delivered to the Li-Ion battery through the TC7710WBG switching regulator. It not only steps down the source voltage to the desirable voltage for the battery, but also controls the charging profiles dynamically to optimize the charging duration and operation reliability. The device has an I2C interface that allows various parameter settings such as charging current and profile selection. The TC7710WBG also supports the USB On-the-Go (OTG) standard to power a peripheral USB device, (such as a pico projector), from the battery.

The TC7710WBG will begin sampling in March 2013 with pricing at $0.50 in thousand piece quantity. Mass production is scheduled to begin May 2013.