Power management IC for battery products
31 Jul 2025
Power Electronics / Power Management
Nordic Semiconductor recently announced its new nPM1304 power management IC (PMIC). Building on the success of the well-established nPM1300, the nPM1304 offers the ideal solution for space-constrained applications that require small batteries. With small batteries come extremely tight energy budgets and demanding requirements on all functionality to operate at the lowest power possible.
The nPM1304 PMIC brings unique system management features and accurate fuel gauging for low-power and size-constrained applications. Nordic’s unique algorithm-based fuel gauge method uses voltage, current, and temperature monitoring, together with a mathematical battery model, to estimate battery state of charge. This method yields an accuracy comparable to that of dedicated fuel gauge devices such as coulomb counters, but without the additional power consumption and inherent error accumulation.
A dedicated fuel gauge device can use as much as 50 µA when the product is active and 7 µA in sleep mode. For a product with, for example, a 200 µA average current consumption, the traditional fuel gauging represents an unsustainable share of the total energy budget. With Nordic’s solution using 8 µA active and zero current in sleep, it provides accurate state-of-charge estimates with no noticeable shortening of battery life.
The nPM1304 charges single-cell Li-ion, Li-poly, and LiFePO4 batteries with a linear charging module that supports from 4 to 100 mA charge current and programmable from 3,5 to 4,65 V termination voltage. The battery charger features automatic thermal regulation with programmable maximum chip temperature during charging.
Further reading:
ABB’s Mission to Zero drives South Africa’s energy transition
ABB Electrification Products
Power Electronics / Power Management
ABB Electrification is charting a bold path towards a net-zero future with its Mission to Zero programme, a blueprint that combines energy efficiency, electrification, and digital innovation to accelerate the transition to clean energy.
Read more...
Energy harvesting using a battery-less IoT system
NuVision Electronics
Editor's Choice Power Electronics / Power Management
Energy Harvesting plays an essential role in the foundation of ambient IoT, a new generation of ultra-low power connected devices that operate by drawing energy from their environment instead of relying on traditional batteries.
Read more...
Driving power, defining performance
Future Electronics
Power Electronics / Power Management
Vishay’s portfolio of inductors, current sense resistors, and MOSFETs provides a comprehensive solution for intelligent power management.
Read more...
Battery simulator module simplifies BMS testing
Test Dynamics
Power Electronics / Power Management
The PXI/PXIe solution from Pickering Interfaces offers a scalable, modular design for faster development cycles, lower total cost of ownership, and improved safety.
Read more...
DC PSU: The cornerstone for efficient solar-storage systems
Vepac Electronics
Power Electronics / Power Management
PV energy storage systems are evolving and DC power supplies, with their technical characteristics that are naturally compatible with new energy, have become a key carrier for improving system energy efficiency.
Read more...
Why local manufacturing, maintenance and support are key to the success of South Africa’s energy future
Power Electronics / Power Management
Although new renewable generation capacity is being developed, the current transmission infrastructure may not fully support the connection of these sources to the national grid or adequately deliver power to areas of high demand.
Read more...
Converter power modules for 48 V networks
Altron Arrow
Power Electronics / Power Management
The economic and quality-of-life benefits of electrification is driving the adoption of HV to 48 V DC-DC conversion across many markets with 48 V power modules becoming more common.
Read more...
The importance of power integrity
Spectrum Concepts
Power Electronics / Power Management
[Sponsored] Behind every high-speed system lies the need for power integrity. Without it, even the cleanest signal paths become compromised.
Read more...
Precise multi-vital sign monitoring
Future Electronics
Power Electronics / Power Management
The AS7058 by ams OSRAM is an integrated multi-vital sign monitoring device, which provides a complete photoplethysmogram, electrocardiogram, body impedance sensor, and electrodermal activity sensor.
Read more...
Automotive battery diagnostics tester
Comtest
Power Electronics / Power Management
Midtronics’ MVT handheld battery tester is a revolutionary tool, powered by MDX-AI, which is set to redefine the standards of battery diagnostics and testing in the automotive industry.
Read more...
printer friendly version