Maxim Integrated Products introduces the DS2710, a stand-alone, NiMH charger IC with alkaline-cell detection. The industry's smallest charger IC to incorporate fast-charge control and alkaline-cell detection, the DS2710 saves space and cost while speeding time to market. Eliminating the need for circuit design or microcontroller programming, this device offers an elegant, single-chip charger solution that protects against system damage due to corrosive cell leakage. The DS2710 thus makes it easy to add in-system NiMH charging to end equipment powered by AA or AAA batteries. Ideal for charging batteries from a USB port, the DS2710 is well suited for MP3 players, voice recorders, handheld games, toys, or any other application capable of using standard-size alkaline or NiMH batteries.

The DS2710's charge-control output regulates charge current using a switch-mode or linear control scheme, enabling application designers to choose between maximizing charge rate and minimizing solution cost and size. The device offers comprehensive charge control for fast-charging NiMH cells, including precharge conditioning, negative-delta-V fast-charge termination, and top-off charging. Voltage, temperature, and charge-timer monitoring during all charge phases provides redundant secondary charge-termination methods for additional protection against overcharge. Additionally, a status pin drives an LED to indicate precharge, fast-charge, or fault conditions.

The DS2710 is available in a space-saving, 3mm x 4mm, 10-pin TQFN package. Samples are available now.