The power chip helps small battery devices work longer by using less power and doing many jobs in one chip. Find out more!
Nordic Semiconductor has launched the nPM1304 Power Management IC (PMIC), targeting compact, battery-operated devices such as fitness trackers, health monitors, and smart rings. Designed to deliver accurate battery monitoring while minimizing energy consumption, the PMIC integrates multiple power management features into a single chip—helping developers reduce board space and component costs.
A key highlight is its ultra-low-power fuel gauge, which estimates the state of charge using voltage, current, and temperature data, along with a battery model. Unlike traditional coulomb counters that can accumulate errors and draw significant power, Nordic’s implementation consumes only 8µA when active and zero during sleep. This makes it ideal for devices that average around 200µA in total consumption.
The nPM1304 supports charging for single-cell Li-ion, Li-polymer, and LiFePO4 batteries. It includes a linear charger with adjustable charge current (4–100 mA) and termination voltage (3.5–4.65 V), along with programmable thermal regulation to ensure safe and efficient charging.
The chip is optimized to power Nordic’s nRF52, nRF53, and nRF54 Series wireless SoCs, as well as other microcontrollers. It includes two high-efficiency buck converters, two load switches or LDOs, three LED drivers, five GPIOs, and support for advanced functions through an I2C-compatible Two-Wire Interface.
As demand grows for connected, low-power consumer and healthcare devices, the nPM1304 offers a compact power management solution that balances efficiency, safety, and feature integration—all within a small footprint.
Some of the key features of the nPM1304 Power Management IC include:
- Ultra-low-power fuel gauge
- Integrated linear charger
- Built-in thermal regulation
- Compact multi-function integration
- I²C-compatible interface
- Zero power drain in sleep mode
“Our customers in consumer and healthcare are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in small form factors. With the nPM1304, we’re giving them a breakthrough solution—accurate remaining battery life estimation with ultra-low power consumption,” Geir Kjosavik, Product Director, PMICs at Nordic Semiconductor.
