E-Report

January 2008

AnalogicTech Announces Battery Charger IC for Single and Dual Cell Applications

Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc. has unveiled the AAT3663, the first in a family of new 1A linear battery charger ICs capable of charging up to two Li-ion cells in series. Designed to operate from either an AC adapter or a USB port, this new device features AnalogicTech’s innovative Digital Thermal Loop charge reduction circuit which monitors the internal die temperature and gradually steps down the charge current to avoid thermal shutdown.

“A growing number of products, from Portable Media Players (PMPs) and digital cameras to point of sale (POS) solutions and high-end handsets, are powered today by two Li-Ion cells connected in series,” says Siamak Bastami, product line director for AnalogicTech. “By supporting input voltages up to 13.2 V, the AAT3663 offers designers the opportunity to replace larger and more expensive discrete charging solutions with a high integrated and more cost effective alternative.”

The AAT3663 operates across a 4.0 V to 13.2 V input voltage range and supports user programmable charge current from 100 mA up to 1 A via an external resistor. Quiescent current is less than 6 µA.

The device features an intelligent digital thermal loop charge reduction circuit that optimizes battery charge rate by constantly measuring die temperature and adjusting the charge current to compensate for thermal conditions. Unlike many competitive charger ICs, this closed loop thermal management system allows the charger to continue charging even under harsh environmental conditions, therefore minimizing charge time.

The new charger IC also features a programmable charge termination current feature which sends the device into sleep mode if the charging current dips below a pre-defined threshold. An integrated programmable charge timer can be used to shut down charging functions if a defective battery cell or a disconnection to the battery current path is detected.

The AAT3663 continuously monitors battery temperature and charge state for fault conditions. To protect the charging device, and the battery under charge, integrated over-temperature, short-circuit, over-voltage and over-current protection circuits automatically shuts down the device if a fault occurs.

Microchip Technology Introduces Li-Ion/Li-Polymer Chargers with Auto USB or AC Power-Source Selection

Auto power-source selection from either a USB port or AC adapter means that MCP73837/8-based charger designs can automatically charge from a PC’s USB port when no AC power is available. When powered from a USB port, the devices ensure compliance with USB power specifications and adjust outputs accordingly. The result is that one charger design can support multiple power sources. Additionally, with high charge currents up to 1A from an AC power source, the MCP73837/8 devices enable faster charging cycles and less recharging down time. On-chip safety features, such as thermal regulation, cell-temperature monitoring and charge-timers minimize charger-related system damage, resulting in safer and more efficient charger designs.

“Today’s battery-powered applications require better combinations of features, performance and safety,” said Bill Barrett, product line marketing manager for Microchip’s Analog and Interface Products Division. “Moreover, due to the ubiquity of USB ports, more applications are utilizing USB-port charging. The MCP73837/8 chargers were designed with these trends in mind, along with designers’ needs for safer, more efficient chargers in small packages.”

Epoch batteries present a safe, powerful and reliable energy solution designed to be low maintenance, cost competitive and environmentally friendly.

The Epoch brand of customizable battery packs will be available in 12.8 volt and 19.2 volt modules and will allow users scalability up to 390 KWh. Additional Epoch battery system benefits include a fail soft capability that will eliminate system failure and a life cycle comprised of more than 2,000 charge cycles. Epoch branded battery products will also provide users a “green” alternative to environmentally contaminating lead-acid batteries.

US Demand for Materials Used in the Production of Batteries and Fuel Cells to Excedd $3.8 Billion in 2011

US demand for materials used in the production of batteries and fuel cells will rise 4.4 percent per year to $3.8 billion in 2011. Gains will be driven by increasing production of high-performance battery products, especially lithium and nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) types, due to the enormous popularity of high-drain portable electronic devices. Demand for fuel cell materials will rise nearly fivefold from a small base, as fuel cell products begin to enjoy commercial success. Gains for battery and fuel cell materials will be limited by a less favorable outlook for more mature and outdated battery types. These and other trends are presented in Battery & Fuel Cell Materials, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc.

Metals will continue to be the leading material type in batteries and fuel cells through 2011. Metal prices spiked during the 2001 to 2006 period, spurring strong value gains for metals in batteries and fuel cells. Advances through 2011 will be restrained by an expected moderation in metal prices and sluggish demand in the sizeable lead metal market. More rapid growth will be seen for polymers and carbon/graphite materials.

Among functional categories for battery and fuel cell materials, the most rapid gains will be for performance additive and catalyst materials, which are expected to nearly double through 2011. Growth will be driven by the ongoing need to improve battery performance and durability, as well as by surging demand for fuel cells, which use expensive platinum catalysts. Active materials and electrodes are the leading outlet for materials, constituting over half of demand in 2006, but will experience below ­average increases in demand.

Secondary batteries accounted for nearly 70 percent of battery and fuel cell material demand in 2006, due to the size of the lead-acid battery market. However, faster gains are forecast for materials in primary batteries, fueled by a robust increase in primarily lithium battery shipments and continued strength in the bedrock alkaline battery market. Stellar growth is expected for fuel cell materials, which wtll rise from less than two percent of the market in 2006 to over seven percent in 2011, as products such as proton-exchange membrane fuel cells and solid oxide fuel cells achieve more substantial commercial acceptance.

Solicore has further established itself in the Asian technology market by entering into a significant agreement with Tomoe Engineering Co., Ltd for distribution of Flexion batteries to select accounts in Japan. Tomoe is a multi-segmented diversified pan-Asian trading company with distribution partnerships in countries all over the world, and will supply Flexion batteries primarily for RFID and prepaid card applications.

The partnership enables Solicore to make a smooth and speedy entry into the Japanese market by leveraging Tomoe’s more than 60 years of experience in the engineering industry, as well as its long-standing relationships with key Japanese manufacturers. The Japanese technology market is extremely competitive and hard for international companies to break into. Without these relationships already in place, it can feasibly take international companies more than three years to develop a strong reputation and sufficient credibility to forge partnerships with local distributors in the rapidly expanding Japanese market.

“Many of our clients, particularly those creating prepaid transportation cards and RFID applications, require a thin film battery in order to create enhanced functionality in the next generation of their products. Solicore’s Flexion batteries are the only batteries we found that provide the necessary thinness and flexibility, making them an essential addition to our portfolio,” says Tetsuo Yamada, general manager of the Electronics Material Department at Tomoe.

Tomoe will supply Solicore’s Flexion batteries to provide embedded power solutions for OTP and RFID applications for select consumer and industrial applications within Japan. The OTP platforms are expected to go to market in 2008, with the RFID applications following in the next two to three years.

Battery Power 2008, September 4-5 in New Orleans, La.,
is currently accepting presentation abstracts. The 2008 event will explore the important topics impacting the battery industry from design issues in battery packs and emerging charging technologies to predicting battery failure and battery hybrid technologies.

There will be 40 presentations broken down into five separate tracks. Space in each track is limited, so it is imperative to submit abstracts by February 8th.

Battery Power 2008 provides an excellent forum to discuss new developments in technology, market conditions and end-user requirements that are driving innovation, capabilities and features, application trends and performance improvements today and in the future. Attendees will include top executives, technical managers and engineering professionals from original equipment manufacturers, system developers and integrators, dealers and component providers.

For more information on submitting an abstract contact Shannon Given, program manager, 720-528-3770 or shannong@infowebcom.com or visit http://www.batterypoweronline.com/bp08_callforpresentations.htm.

2008

February
27-29 - IWCE, Las Vegas, Nev.

March
17-20 - The 25th International Battery Seminar & Exhibit, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

18-20 - Aviation Industry Expo, Dallas, Texas

2008 International CES
January 7-10, 2008
Las Vegas, NV

CES Conference Program:
The 2008 lineup is here! Business strategies and market trends. Hands-on technical courses. Hands-down the best experts. There's no better way to learn, connect, explore and gain an edge in the consumer technology industry. Register for the 2008 International CES now, and pack your schedule with the sessions that match your business interests, including:

• CES Knowledge Tracks covering trends and topics in emerging technology, home and lifestyle entertainment, wireless and several others
• Twenty Partner Programs such as Digital Hollywood, Billboard's Digital Music Live! and the Consumer Robotics Market Development Program
• Always popular SuperSessions that feature the industry's most formidable experts
• Industry Insiders like CEOs from Best Buy and Circuit City and Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the One Laptop Per Child project and the MIT Media Lab
• Crowd-drawing keynote addresses from the likes of GM, Comcast and more

Undecided? Browse the complete 2008 conference program.

APEC2008
February 24-28, 2008
Austin, Texas

APEC2008 is on record-setting pace

APEC2008, to be held in the Austin Convention Center February 24-28, 2008, is shaping up to be the most successful in the Conference’s 23-year history. The conference will feature a solid technical program with over 300 peer-review papers, exceptional plenary sessions, professional education seminars, special presentation sessions plus the ever-popular “rap” sessions and micro-mouse competition.  According to Steve Pekarek, APEC2008 General Chairman, “The plenary session will serve as a great appetizer for the conference - topics from the latest in electric and hybrid vehicles, power supplies for servers, how recent Supreme Court decisions are changing the landscape of intellectual property, and an overview of the latest advances in passives.  If you’re involved in power electronics design, you need to be at APEC2008.”
Register today at www.apec-conf.com

The International Wireless Communications Expo
February 25-26, 2008
Las Vegas, NV
The International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) is the ONE place where all industries and communications IT professionals come together to share thoughts and ideas on wireless communications technologies.
If you are a:

• Enterprise User from industries such as security, utilities, transportation, construction, education, retail, healthcare and facilities management
• Public Safety Professional
• Wireless Service Provider
• IT Professional
• Dealer or Consultant

And you are responsible for planning and implementing your organization’s wireless technology future, then IWCE is your must attend event.
http://www.iwceexpo.com/iwce2008/public/enter.aspx

Electric West Exhibition & Conference
February 26-29, 2008
Las Vegas (NV) Convention Center


The Electric West Exhibition & Conference will take place at the Las Vegas (NV) Convention Center, February 26-29, 2008. (conference Feb. 26-29: exhibits Feb. 27-29. While power quality has always been  part of the event, this year Electric West will incorporate the Power Quality & Reliability Exhibition & Conference. There will be 20+ Power Quality Professional Advancement Courses, seminars and technical sessions, all of which will qualify for professional development hours (PDH) under the auspices of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying (NCEES) and EC&M Seminars. Topics include “Stored Energy & UPS (1&2)”, Flywheel vs. Batteries: the Challenge Continues,” “Critical Operations Power Systems” and more. There will be a free keynote address on the Future of Power Quality. And an Ask the Experts panel discussion. Meet more than 200 exhibitors spotlighting thousands of products.

Battcon® 2008 International Stationary Battery Conference and Trade Show
May 5 - 7, 2008
Marco Island, Florida

The Battcon Stationary Battery Conference is a three day, noncommercial, technical event for storage battery users from the power, telecom, UPS and other industries.

This well-established event brings over 450 end-users, engineers, battery and battery test equipment manufacturers, installers, and standards and safety experts together to discuss storage battery innovations and solutions for existing systems.

Presentations by users and manufacturers address everyday battery applications, technical advances, and industry concerns. A two evening trade show featuring storage power related vendors is also part of the conference.

Info: Jennifer Stryker, Albercorp, 3103 N. Andrews Ave. Ext., Pompano Beach, FL 33064. (954) 623-6660 ext 31206, or visit www.battcon.com.

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