Linear Tech unveils LTC4013 for charging Lead Acid as well as Li-Ion batteries

Linear has announced a new IC LTC4013, a battery charger controller IC with features of high voltage multi chemistry battery charging support. LTC4013 uses temperature compensated 3- and 4-stages to charge efficiently 12V and 24V lead-acid batteries with algorithms. It can also charge multicell Lithium based battery stack where there is voltage fluctuation. LTC4013 supports Mode pins to retain the float voltage and charge algorithm. Regulation can be precisely controlled with a single resistor up to 20A up to 5% and is programmable. Another interesting factor is that the charging can be retained by enabling adjustments. LTC4013 comes up with user-adjustable maximum power point tracking (MPPT) circuitry to charge the batteries from energy produced by solar panels, where the power limited sources can be optimized by open circuit method. LTC4013 can manage temperature changes without the inconvenience of adding a solar panel temperature sensor. As it is corrected by MPPT open-circuit method. Applications include portable medical instruments, monitoring equipment, battery backup systems, industrial handhelds, industrial lighting, military equipment, ruggedized notebooks/tablet computers, plus remote powered communication and telemetry systems. N-channel MOSFETs supports LTC4013 for high efficiency charging with an option of wide input voltage in the range of 0V to 60...