Power manager offers high-efficiency charging and system backup for two supercapacitors

Analog Devices offers the Power by Linear LTC4041, a complete supercapacitor backup power management system for 2.9V to 5.5V supply rails that must be kept active throughout a main power failure. Supercapacitors have higher power density than batteries, which makes them perfect for systems demanding high peak power backup for short periods of time. The device uses an on-chip bidirectional synchronous converter to give high-efficiency step-down supercapacitor charging, as well as high current, high-efficiency boost backup power. When external power is available, the device functions as a step-down battery charger for one or two supercapacitor cells while providing preference to the system load. When the input supply drops under the adjustable PFI threshold, the device switches to a step-up regulator operation, capable of producing up to 2.5A to the system load from the supercapacitor. During a power fail event, the device’s PowerPath control offers reverse blocking and a seamless switchover from input power to backup power. Typical applications for the device include ride-through 'dying gasp' supplies, high current ride-through 3V-5V UPSs, power meters, industrial alarms, servers and solid-state drives.