I tried to work out from the drawing who the manufacturer might be.
The first drawing labels it a "DC" package, which is a type designation used by Linear Technology, but they don't list a 2.0x1.5mm version so I don't think it's theirs (unless they've developed a custom package for this device as well as the die itself).
Life Support Policy
BTR’s products are not authorized for use as critical components in life support devices or other medical systems.
They've got a working chip. Can't be all that hard to respin with a different output voltage.
A new batch of videos from batteroo, really lame and non-scientific "test's"/reviews.
BUT the last video before these i linked to last time have not gotten payed views for once.
Wow, they spent some money on that
Of course it's begging to be tested on that actual model GPS...
They clearly have a flush of new advertising money from their new investor.
I have the model of GPS shown on the still picture of that video, but that isn't the model they used in ensuing video.
The one on the still image must be the one bellow:
Alexander.
I tried to work out from the drawing who the manufacturer might be.
The first drawing labels it a "DC" package, which is a type designation used by Linear Technology, but they don't list a 2.0x1.5mm version so I don't think it's theirs (unless they've developed a custom package for this device as well as the die itself).
The second drawing refers to WDFN(XL08) and VDFN(YL08) variants, and I can't find any other reference to those package codes elsewhere.
Dave, you've got a powerful microscope now. Fancy having a go at de-capping one of these ICs and taking a peek?
The BTR004 is a high efficiency, fixed interleaved frequency 1.4MHz, current mode PWM boost DC/DC converter which could operate from single-cell NiCd, NiMH or alkaline battery such as input voltage below 0.6V. The converter output voltage is adjusted from 1.5V to 1.32V from VIN at 1.5V to 0.80V. No external Schottky diode is required and the converter can achieve efficiency of 93%.
The converter is based on a fixed frequency, current mode, pulse-width-modulation PWM controller that goes automatically into burst mode at light load which quiescent current is only 15uA in this mode of operation. When converter operates in discontinuous mode, the internal anti-ringing switch could reduce interference and radiated electromagnetic energy. The BTR004 is available in a space-saving 8-lead DFN package for portable application
Features
Synchronous Rectification: 93% Efficiency
Very Low Start-up Voltage at 0.6V
Automatically Switch to Burst Mode for Improving Efficiency at Light Load
Internal Anti-Ringing Switch across Inductor
Fixed Interleaved Frequency Operation at 1.4MHz with 2.8Mhz clock
Small 8-Pin DFN Package
RoHS Compliant
...
SW1,SW2 Switch input pin which connected to inductor
The FP6711 is a high efficiency, fixed frequency 500KHz, current mode PWM boost DC/DC converter which could operate from single/dual-cell NiCd, NiMH or alkaline battery such as input voltage below 1V. The converter output voltage can be adjusted from 1.8V to a maximum of 4V by an external resistor divider. Besides the converter includes a 0.35? N-channel MOSFET switch and 0.45? P-channel synchronous rectifier. So no external Schottky diode is required and could get better efficiency near 94%.
The converter is based on a fixed frequency, current mode, pulse-width-modulation PWM controller that goes automatically into PFM mode at light load which quiescent current is only 25uA in this mode operation. The converter features a special function that the load is completely isolated from the battery during shutdown. Besides it also has auto-discharge function which could discharge the output capacitor immediately during shutdown.
When converter operation into discontinuous mode, the internal anti-ringing switch could reduce interference and radiated electromagnetic energy. The FP6711 is available in a space-saving 10-lead MSOP package for portable application.
Features
Synchronous Rectification: 94% Efficiency
Very Low Start-up Voltage at 0.85V
Automatically Switch to PFM Mode for Improving Efficiency at Light Load
Built-in True Shutdown: Isolation of Load from Battery during Shutdown
Internal Anti-Ringing Switch across Inductor
Low Battery Warning Display
Fixed Frequency Operation at 500KHz
Very Low Shutdown Current at 1uA
Small 10-Pin MSOP Package
RoHS Compliant
...
SW Switch input pin which connected to inductor
Bingo. Fitipower is the OEM.
Bingo. Fitipower is the OEM.
The first of those datasheets has a date of Feb 2007! At least a 10 year old design if that's the case, although obviously either it's been repackaged into an 8 pin package for them specially or it's been updated to include 8 pin packages since those datasheets (or they just copy-pasted some copy from the FP6711 datasheet for their website but their IC isn't based on that at all, which I wouldn't be surprised about).
Well it's obviously a rather different chip... 0.6V minimum input and a much more complicated two-phase design.
It would seem odd if Fitipower were the designers of the BTR004... If you're Batteroo, would you pick an IC designer that noone has ever heard of, for your one shot at getting the custom IC that you need for your "world-changing invention"? And given that they had contacts at Exar, who would be more than capable of pulling off that kind of chip, it would be rather odd indeed.
But the similarity in language is a little odd (but could also be due to using the same translation system, or copy&paste). I suppose there's always the possibility that the contact at Exar said "yeah, sorry mate, can't do it on your budget... Let me ask around if anyone at a smaller outfit is desperate for a design win"
It would seem odd if Fitipower were the designers of the BTR004...
or they just copy-pasted some copy from the FP6711 datasheet for their website but their IC isn't based on that at all, which I wouldn't be surprised about
Now that I look at the schematic more, it does seem a little suspicious.
- The package diagram (espeically the text below it) looks very LTC-ish, but it's odd that there is no pin 1 indicator nor the thermal pad common in these small DFNs.
- The inductor symbol is distinctively curly (does anyone recognise the software/library which has it? I think I've seen it before but not recently) in the rev 1.0 FP6711 datasheet (2007) and Batteroo's, but not in the later FP6711 datasheets.
- The fonts. "22uF" (an actual u, not a Mu unlike the inductors), "Pin 1", and "Vout" definitely look like they were added hastily afterwards. You can see the right side of the capacitors are cut off. "btr004" is also in the wrong font (serifs vs. sans for the original) and not even centered in the IC body.
- Compare the spacing of the "V" and "O2" vs "O1" on the right side. Their spacing doesn't look right.
- The lines extend into the IC body on SW2 and GRD1 (but not the other pins). The position of the SW2 label is also higher than SW1. GND doesn't line up with GRD1 and GRD2 either.
Why would Fitipower, if they did design the IC, take a schematic image from an existing, very old datasheet and edit it with an image editor?
It would seem odd if Fitipower were the designers of the BTR004... If you're Batteroo, would you pick an IC designer that noone has ever heard of, for your one shot at getting the custom IC that you need for your "world-changing invention"?
QuoteIt would seem odd if Fitipower were the designers of the BTR004... If you're Batteroo, would you pick an IC designer that noone has ever heard of, for your one shot at getting the custom IC that you need for your "world-changing invention"?
Would you put one over that Battero will not just do exactly that?
After all if their goal was really getting a proper custom IC for their 'world-changing invention' instead of the scamming merry-go-round that they took us and their investors on, they would've heed Dave's advice way back when... that it's just not feasible?
...
If it is a custom IC, there is no need for any proper datasheet to be made.
The fact is they do have an IC, there is nothing in the LT range that comes close, and the block diagram and description do match the details we have worked out here.
The fact is they do have an IC, there is nothing in the LT range that comes close, and the block diagram and description do match the details we have worked out here.
Yeah, and there is a damn good reason for that!
If this "Batteroo" chip was actually even somewhat useful in any kind of decent range of applications for real products, it would have already been one of the stalwarts of all the major brands of converter ICs for many, many years.