Wednesday, 19 December 2007

NXP Introduces World's First USB Battery Charger Detection Tool

NXP Semiconductors has unveiled what it claims to be “the world’s first” USB battery charger detection solutions for mobile phones.

The ISP1704 and ISP1601 are capable of detecting and differentiating between a dedicated USB charger, USB Host Charger and USB Host when charging a mobile phone battery. The mechanism is in accordance with recently introduced regulations for the sale of mobile phones in China as well as the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) Battery Charging Specification Rev. 1.0.

This technology is said to allow for faster charging, longer battery life and initiates automatically whenever the consumer uses the USB connector in their mobile phone. The ability to provide this information enables the system to intelligently charge a battery by determining the level of charging current that it is able to draw, based on the type of USB connection available.

USB 2.0 specifications required that when a portable device is attached to a USB host or hub, the peak supply capacity was limited to 500mA. New specs from the USB-IF now permit devices to draw current in excess of the USB 2.0 requirements and call for portable devices to be able to distinguish between a high-current wall charger (up to 1.8 A), a USB host or hub charger (up to 1.5 A), and a standard USB host or hub (up to 500 mA).

The ISP1704 and ISP1601 ensure that OEMs and ODMs will comply with the recently introduced legislations by the Chinese Ministry of Information Industry, which requires that mobile phones designed for the Chinese market must adopt a USB charger interface in order to be approved for sale. With over 100 million handsets sold every year in China, this is a very significant development for mobile device manufacturers.

The ISP1704 is the world’s first high speed USB OTG ULPI transceiver to also offer an integrated battery charger detection function. NXP’s close engagement with leading mobile phone manufacturers and the USB-IF Battery Charging Working Group enabled NXP to define a product that combines high speed USB with USB battery charger detection. The ISP1704 can transmit and receive USB data at high-
speed (480 Mbit/s), full-speed (12 Mbit/s) and low-speed (1.5 Mbit/s) with very little power consumption.

“Integrating the USB Battery Charging Detection function in a USB OTG ULPI Transceiver has never been done before. This will set a standard for all mobile phones to integrate USB functionality with USB battery charger detection to save total system cost and help reduce the development time for mobile phones,” said Dr. Antonio Alvarez-Tinoco, Senior Director and Product Line Manager of USB/UWB, NXP.

The ISP1601 is the world’s first dedicated USB battery charger detection IC with an ultra small CSP footprint of less than 2mm2. The ISP1601 has set the industry standard by delivering dedicated battery charger detection that can be added to existing platforms or products without the need to re-vamp the entire system design. For mobile device manufacturers, this allows new devices to be developed immediately for the market while reducing costs.

This incorporation of a universal USB charger interface for mobile phones represents a wider shift within the industry. In September 2007 the Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP) forum announced that its members had agreed to integrate micro-USB as a future common connector for data and charging. Consumers will benefit from a single, converged USB port on all mobile phones (or portables) that enables USB communication, USB audio and USB battery charging.

“In the long run, it is the consumer that will benefit as most companies begin to adopt the USB standard in mobile phones. They will be able to use their mobile phones with a USB port to communicate information, listen to MP3s, and charge their batteries wherever they are, as long as there’s AC supply or PCs/laptops available,” said Dr. Alvarez-Tinoco.