Sense Current Over A Wider Range For Better Battery Management

by Bonnie Baker, Maxim Integrated, San Jose, Calif., How2Power Today, Jul 15 2019

Focus:
In battery-powered portable and mobile devices, the usual method of determining the battery’s discharge status is to track the current outflow to the device over time using a current-sense resistor in the power-supply path followed by a difference amplifier. However, the sense resistor and amplifier provide a restricted measurement range while requiring a relatively large PCB footprint. This article examines an alternative current-sensing solution using an active sensing transistor as implemented in the MAX40016 current-sense amplifier IC. This solution increases dynamic range by 4X and reduces PCB footprint by 20x versus a design using a sense resistor. The article begins by explaining the operation and limitations of a conventional resistive current-sensing system. It then describes a current-sensing design based on the MAX40016 IC and its benefits.

What you’ll learn:

• How to track battery discharge status over a wider current range while reducing the required PCB space

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