LT1512
U
OPERATION
current amplifier is set to a fixed gain of –12.5 which
voltage between 1V (low output current) and 1.9V (high
outputcurrent). SwitchdutycyclegoestozeroiftheVC pin
is pulled below the VC pin threshold, placing the LT1512 in
an idle mode.
provides a –100mV current limit sense voltage.
The error signal developed at the amplifier output is
brought out externally and is used for frequency compen-
sation. During normal regulator operation this pin sits at a
U
W U U
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
tionaluncorrectableerrortotheconstantvoltagefloatmode
The LT1512 is an IC battery charger chip specifically opti-
mized to use the SEPIC converter topology. The SEPIC
topology has unique advantages for battery charging. It will
operate with input voltages above, equal to or below the
battery voltage, has no path for battery discharge when
turned off and eliminates the snubber losses of flyback
designs. It also has a current sense point that is ground
referred and need not be connected directly to the battery.
The two inductors shown are actually just two identical
windings on one inductor core, although two separate
inductors can be used.
of about ±0.5% as calculated by:
±0.15µA(R1)(R2)
1.245(R1+R2)
V
Error =
BAT
±0.15µA = expected variation in FB bias current around
the nominal 0.3µA typical value.
With R2 = 41.2k and R1 = 228k, (VBAT = 8.2V), the error due
to variations in bias current would be ±0.42%.
A second option is to disconnect the voltage divider with a
small NMOS transistor as shown in Figure 3. To ensure
adequatedrivetothetransistor(evenwhentheVIN voltageis
at its lowest operating point of 2.4V), the FET gate is driven
wth a peak detected voltage via D2. Note that there are two
connectionsforD2. TheL1Aconnectionmustbeusedifthe
voltage divider is set for less than 3.5V (fully charged
battery). Gate drive is equal to battery voltage plus input
voltage. The disadvantage of this connection is that Q1 will
stillbe“on”iftheVIN voltageisactiveandthechargerisshut
down via the S/S pin. The L1 B connection allows Q1 to turn
off when VIN is off or when shutdown is initiated, but the
reduced gate drive (=VBAT) is not adequate to ensure a Q1
on-stateforfullychargedbatteryvoltageslessthan3.5V.Do
not substitute for Q1 unless the new device has adequate
VGS maximum rating, especially if D2 is connected to L1A.
C6 filters the gate drive and R5 pulls the gate low when
switching stops.
A current sense voltage is generated with respect to ground
across R3 in Figure 1. The average current through R3 is
always identical to the current delivered to the battery. The
LT1512currentlimitloopwillservothevoltageacrossR3to
–100mV when the battery voltage is below the voltage limit
set by the output divider R1/R2. Constant current charging
is therefore set at 100mV/R3. R4 and C4 filter the current
signaltodeliverasmoothfeedbackvoltagetotheIFB pin. R1
andR2formadividerforbatteryvoltagesensingandsetthe
batteryfloatvoltage.ThesuggestedvalueforR2is12.4k.R1
is calculated from:
R2(V
1.245 +R2(0.3µA)
– 1.245)
BAT
R1=
VBAT = battery float voltage
0.3µA = typical FB pin bias current
A value of 12.4k for R2 sets divider current at 100µA. This is
a constant drain on the battery when power to the charger is
off. If this drain is too high, R2 can be increased to 41.2k,
reducing divider current to 30µA. This introduces an addi-
Disconnecting the divider leaves only D1 diode leakage as a
battery drain. See Diode Selection for a discussion of diode
leakage.
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