General Description

The LM3641 Lithium Protection Integrated Circuit resides inside a 3.6V Lithium-Ion battery pack consisting of a single

cell or multiple parallel cells. The IC controls the ON/OFF

state of a pair of low threshold N-channel power MOSFETs

placed in series with the battery cell(s). The purpose of this

MOSFET pair is to protect the cell(s) from inadvertent electrical over-stress. The IC compares the cell voltage against

internally programmed minimum and maximum limits. Transient voltage faults of approximately 1.25 seconds are tolerated.

The IC also monitors the bi-directional current flow in the battery pack by measuring the voltage across a robust 4 mΩ

current sensing resistor internal to the protection IC package. The IC turns OFF the MOSFET pair whenever any fault

limit is exceeded. Momentary current surges <4 ms are tolerated.

The Enable pin allows external ON/OFF control of the MOSFET pair and resets the IC after the MOSFET pair is turned

OFF and the pack is safe to operate again.

The limits for overcharge and overdischarge voltage, as well

as independent limits for each direction of overcurrent are

factory adjusted employing EEPROM.

Features

- Automatic battery disconnect when the cell is

over-charged or over-discharged.

- Maximum cell voltage for MOSFET conduction is factory

programmable between 4.0V and 4.4V with a ±25 mV

tolerance (0˚C to +60˚C).

- Minimum cell voltage for MOSFET conduction =

0.57•VMAX ±3.5 (0˚C to +60˚C).

- Internal 4 mΩ current sense resistor provides ±0.5A

maximum accuracy for detection of overcurrent faults.

The maximum charge and discharge current is factory

programmable between 1A and 5A. A single overcurrent

fault event opens and protects the MOSFET pair.

- Automatic detection of safe pack conditions for recovery

(MOSFET pair ON) from a fault condition (over/under

discharged or overcurrent).

- Average current drain = 1.2 µA typical.

- Optional Enable pack terminal can be used to prevent

accidental short circuit of pack and for maximizing the

shelf life of the pack (IC powers down when the pack is

not in use).

- Over-current events cause connection of an internal

50 kΩ “FET-Bypass” resistance across OFF MOSFET

pair. Loads >3–7 MΩ are required for return to

conduction mode.

- Over-charged states cause connection ofa5kΩ

“Cell-Bypass” resistor to ensure that the cell is not

allowed to be overcharged by leakage paths.