13
LTC4010
4010p
Cell Voltage Network Design
An external resistor network is required to provide the
average single-cell voltage to the V
CELL
pin of the LTC4010.
The proper circuit for multicell packs is shown in Figure 3.
The ratio of R2 to R1 should be a factor of (n – 1), where
n is the number of series cells in the battery pack. The value
of R1 should be between 1k and 100k. This range limits the
sensing error caused by V
CELL
leakage current and pre-
vents the ON resistance of the internal NFET between V
CDIV
and GND from causing a significant error in the V
CELL
voltage. The external resistor network is also used to
detect battery insertion and removal. The filter formed by
C1 and the parallel combination of R1 and R2 is recom-
mended for rejecting PWM switching noise. The value of
C1 should be chosen to yield a 1st order lowpass fre-
quency of less than 500Hz. In the case of a single cell, the
external application circuit shown in Figure 4 is recom-
mended to provide the necessary noise filtering and miss-
ing battery detection.
APPLICATIU
W
U
U
best with a 1% 10k NTC thermistor with a
β
of 3750.
However, the LTC4010 will operate satisfactorily with
other 10k NTC thermistors having slightly different nomi-
nal exponential temperature coefficients. For these ther-
mistors, the temperature related limits given in the Electri-
cal Characteristics table may not strictly apply. The filter
formed by C1 in Figure 5 is optional but recommended for
rejecting PWM switching noise.
Figure 4. Single-Cell Monitor Network
Figure 3. Multiple Cell Voltage Divider
10
7
BAT
LTC4010
R2
+
FOR TWO OR
MORE SERIES CELLS
R1
C1
R2 = R1(n – 1)
4010 F03
V
CDIV
GND
6
4
V
CELL
10
7
BAT
10k
10k
33nF
1 CELL
4010 F04
V
CDIV
6
V
CELL
External Thermistor
The network for proper temperature sensing using a
thermistor with a negative temperature coefficient (NTC)
is shown in Figure 5. The LTC4010 is designed to work
Figure 5. External NTC Thermistor Network
5
V
TEMP
R
10k NTC
C1
68nF
4010 F05
Disabling Thermistor Functions
Temperature sensing is optional in LTC4010 applications.
For low cost systems where temperature sensing may not
be required, the V
TEMP
pin may simply be wired to INTV
DD
through 56k to disable temperature qualification of all
charging operations. However, this practice is not recom-
mended for NiMH cells charged well above or below their
1C rate, because fast charge termination based solely on
voltage inflection may not be adequate to protect the
battery from a severe overcharge.
INTV
DD
Regulator Output
If BGATE is left open, the INTV
DD
pin of the LTC4010 can
be used as an additional source of regulated voltage in the
host system any time READY is active. Switching loads on
INTV
DD
may reduce the accuracy of internal analog cir-
cuits used to monitor and terminate fast charging. In
addition, DC current drawn from the INTV
DD
pin can
greatly increase internal power dissipation at elevated V
CC
voltages. A minimum ceramic bypass capacitor of 0.1
μ
F is
recommended.
Calculating Average Power Dissipation
The user should ensure that the maximum rated IC junc-
tion temperature is not exceeded under all operating con-
ditions. The thermal resistance of the LTC4010 package
(
θ
JA
) is 38
°
C/W, provided the exposed metal pad is prop-
erly soldered to the PCB. The actual thermal resistance in