
M
Low-Power, Single/Dual-Level Battery Monitors
with Hysteresis
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7
Detailed Description
The MAX6427
–
MAX6438 family is available with several
monitoring options. The MAX6427/MAX6428/MAX6429
offer factory-trimmed battery-monitor thresholds, with a
single low-battery output (see Figure 1). The
MAX6430/MAX6431/MAX6432 also feature factory-
trimmed thresholds, but have two low-battery outputs
(see Figure 2). The factory-trimmed thresholds of the
MAX6427
–
MAX6432 eliminate the requirement for
external components.
The user sets the threshold voltages for the
MAX6433
–
MAX6438, which permit the user to select
the hysteresis range, and consequently the sensitivity
of the system to noise. A wide hysteresis range pre-
vents chattering that can result during battery recovery
or load removal. The MAX6433/MAX6434/ MAX6435
have single low-battery outputs and the MAX6436/
MAX6437/MAX6438 have dual low-battery outputs (see
Figures 3 and 4).
The MAX6427
–
MAX6438 combine a 615mV reference
with two comparators, logic, and timing circuitry to pro-
vide the user with information about the charge state of
the power-supply batteries. The MAX6427
–
MAX6438
monitor separate high-voltage and low-voltage thresh-
olds to determine battery status. The output(s) can be
used to signal when the battery is charged, when the
battery is low, and when the battery is empty. Factory-
trimmed thresholds are ideal for monitoring single-cell
Li+ or multicell alkaline/NiCd/NiMH power supplies.
User-programmable versions are also available with
thresholds determined using an external resistor-
divider (see
Resistor-Value Selection
).The adjustable
versions can monitor down to 0.62V, making them suit-
able for monitoring single-cell alkaline, NiMH, and NiCd
applications (V
DD
≥
1.6V).
When the power-supply voltage drops below the speci-
fied low threshold, the low-battery output asserts (see
Low-Battery Output
). When the voltage rises above the
specified high threshold following a 140ms (min) time-
out period, the low-battery output is deasserted (see
Threshold Monitoring
). This ensures the supply voltage
has stabilized before power-converter or microproces-
sor activity is enabled.
Low-Battery Output
The low-battery outputs are available in active-low
(
LBO
,
LBOH
,
LBOL
, push-pull and open-drain) and
active-high (LBO, LBOL, LBOH, open-drain) configura-
tions. Push-pull outputs are referenced to BATT (for
factory-trimmed versions) or V
DD
(for adjustable thresh-
old versions).
The open-drain devices can be pulled to a voltage inde-
pendent of V
DD
or BATT, up to 5.5V. This allows the
R
S
Q
LBO TIMEOUT
PERIOD
V
BATT
V
BATT
( ) ARE FOR THE MAX6429
615
mV
+
-
Q
LBO
(LBO)
Figure 1. MAX6427/MAX6428/MAX6429 Functional Diagram