O2Micro Develops OZ870 Lithium-Ion Charger IC

O2Micro International Ltd. (Santa Clara, CA) announced the development of an IC for optimized charging of multiple-serial-type lithium-ion batteries, the OZ870. This IC was developed in cooperation with Compaq Computer Corp. (Houston, TX).

The OZ870 IC creates a lithium-ion battery charger that fully charges each cell in three-cell and four-cell type batteries. In addition, the OZ870 optimizes charging of multiple-cell lithium-ion batteries that result in fully-charged batteries and enhanced user safety. Key features include increased numbers of charge-discharge battery cycles, increased reliability, balanced cell-to-cell charging and over-charge battery protection.

O2Micro Vice President Jack Shyr stated, “We are extremely pleased to have worked with the world's leading PC manufacturer in this product development. Compaq's extensive system knowledge combined with our mixed-signal IC expertise creates a leading-edge IC that will greatly improve the operation of notebooks and other multi-lithium-ion cell mobile products."