The intersection of devices powered by Li-ion batteries and popularity of USB Type-C charging is driving demand for higher-performance, highly functional, yet smaller charging-related ICs. The MAX77860 from Maxim Integrated Products incorporates the critical functions and features, including what the vendor maintains is industry’s first integrated USB-C port controller and charger.
Such a configuration eliminates the need for a separate host controller to detect the current level and configure the charger’s input current limit, thus minimizing software development and trimming the subsystem BOM and costs. The MAX77860 targets point-of-sale terminals, power banks, industrial computers, scanners, radios, medical devices, charging cradles, portable speakers, and game players.
The highly efficient (up to 93%) MAX77860, a 3-A switched-mode buck charger, integrates USB-C configuration-channel (CC) port detection and a battery charger for 15-W applications, supporting battery charging at the fastest rate possible under the USB-C specification. The charger features a single input which works for both USB and high-voltage adapters. The CC pin-detection feature removes the requirement to support end-to-end USB port connection and allows charging to start automatically.
A highly integrated power device, the MAX77860 includes many USB-C functions and features (Fig. 1). The I2C-compatible (3.0) interface, with bidirectional serial data line (SDA) and a serial clock line (SCL), eases connection to the host processor.
