Reference design simplifies development of USB Type-C rechargeable battery packs

Silicon Labs (has introduced a comprehensive reference design to simplify the development of USB Type-C rechargeable lithium ion battery packs used to power smartphones, tablets, laptops, headphones and other portable devices. The reference design includes everything developers need to create DRP applications with USB Type-C PD, accelerating the development of new USB Type-C battery packs or migrating existing USB Type-A battery pack designs to USB Type-C. The company’s reference design includes a development board, USB Type-C PD stack, example code, schematics and a hardware manual. “We’re a mobile, connected society, and users need convenient rechargeable power sources for their smartphones, tablets and other portable devices,” said Tom Pannell, senior director of IoT Products at Silicon Labs. “Two-way, rechargeable battery packs are must-have products for people on the go, and our new turnkey USB Type-C reference design makes it incredibly easy for developers to create DRP charging solutions that are flexible, cost-effective and feature-rich.”