This document describes a battery conditioner that extends the life of lithium-ion batteries.
Li-ion batteries naturally age due to corrosion of the positive terminal, a process accelerated by heat and high state-of-charge (SoC). The document details how improper handling can shorten battery life significantly.
The LTC4099 battery charger and power manager includes an I2C controlled battery conditioner designed to maximize operating life. This feature monitors temperature and voltage, gently discharging the battery when conditions exceed safe limits (e.g., temperatures above 60°C) to minimize aging effects.
The LTC4099 contains an I2C controlled battery conditioner that maximizes battery operating life while optimizing run time and charging speed.
If the battery conditioner is enabled and detects that the battery temperature is higher than approximately 60°C, it gently discharges the battery.
The amount of current used to discharge the battery follows a curve that reaches zero when the battery terminal voltage is approximately 3.85V.