Single-cell Li-Ion charger with host-controlled flexibility
The Texas Instruments BQ24160ARGER is a single-cell Li-Ion or Li-Polymer battery charger IC that relies on an I²C interface for programming charge current, termination voltage, and status readback — the host MCU controls the charging profile rather than fixed resistor dividers. Maximum charge current is 2.5 A, which suits portable devices needing a fast charge cycle without pushing into the 3 A+ class that demands a larger inductor and thermal budget.
At 2.5 A the part charges a typical 3.7 V single-cell pack at roughly 1 C for a 2500 mAh battery, completing a full cycle in about an hour. The constant-current phase is programmable via I²C, so the same PCB can serve multiple SKUs by adjusting the charge current in firmware — no resistor change. The 24-VFQFN package with exposed pad (4x4 mm) must have its thermal pad soldered to a copper plane; without that the junction temperature rises above the 85°C operating ceiling at sustained 2.5 A.
Protection and temperature range for industrial portable gear
Built-in over-temperature and over-voltage fault protection means the charger shuts down before the battery or the IC itself reaches a damage threshold — no external supervisor needed. Supply maximum is 10 V, so a 5 V USB bus or a 9 V wall adapter both work without a pre-regulator.