By James Creber · Tech Update
Nordic Semiconductor’s nPM2100 combines power regulation and system-management functions for equipment powered by replaceable cells. It supports primary-battery supplies within a 0.7 to 3.4 V input range, including alkaline AA and AAA cells and common lithium coin cells, with a boost output configurable from 1.8 to 3.3 V.
Automatic pass-through operation sits alongside an LDO/load-switch function, a hardware watchdog, failed-boot recovery and low-power shipping and hibernation modes. A sensor or remote control can therefore use the PMIC for supply regulation and several of the housekeeping functions around its processor.
The device also supports model-based fuel gauging. Battery-voltage and temperature measurements feed an algorithm running on the host processor, rather than relying only on a voltage lookup table to estimate remaining energy.
For development, the nPM2100 evaluation kit includes six interchangeable battery holders. These accommodate single- and two-cell AA and AAA arrangements and common coin-cell formats. Developers can configure the PMIC through the nPM PowerUP desktop application and export settings as code for the host MCU.
That gives a team working on an intermittently active wireless product a way to compare battery formats and power settings using the intended cell arrangement. The nPM2100 is designed for non-rechargeable batteries; it is not a battery charger.
Source: Nordic nPM2100 product documentation.
nPM2100 evaluation kit; Nordic fuel-gauging description.
Image: Nordic Semiconductor. Manufacturer product image supplied for this Tech Update.
