MCP7387 Battery Chargers Family (10 parts in our catalog)

The MCP73871 series, manufactured by Microchip Technology, is a family of highly integrated linear Li-Ion/Li-Polymer charge management controllers. These devices feature autonomous power path management, allowing them to power the system load while simultaneously charging a single-cell battery from either USB or AC-DC wall adapter inputs. By prioritizing the system load, the family ensures reliable operation even with deeply discharged batteries, making it a standard choice for portable devices requiring seamless power source transitions.

Key Features

• Integrated Power Path Management for simultaneous system load and charging
• Automatic input source selection between USB and AC-DC adapters
• Voltage proportional current control to prevent input power overload
• Integrated thermistor monitor for temperature-regulated charging

Sub-families

Typical Use Cases

The MCP73871 family is specifically designed for space-constrained embedded systems that rely on rechargeable lithium-based chemistries. It is frequently employed in handheld medical diagnostic tools, portable GPS units, and industrial data loggers where the system must remain operational while connected to a charging source. Because the device handles the power distribution between the battery and the external supply automatically, it simplifies the power-tree design for engineers building Bluetooth headsets, smart wearable devices, and IoT sensors. The inclusion of status output pins for 'charge in progress' and 'low battery' makes it easy to interface with a host microcontroller for user interface feedback. Its compact footprint and minimal external component requirement are ideal for high-density PCB layouts in consumer electronics.

Popular Variants

Top variants from across the family, with specs that differentiate them.

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