new designs, not yet to prototype stage

[web/altusmetrum] / LipoCharger / index.mdwn

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+# LipoCharger
+
+This is a simple but effective charger for LiPo batteries.  It has a higher
+charge rate than the on-board charger on [TeleMetrum](../TeleMetrum), and
+will be necessary for charging the batteries used with projects like
+[TeleNano](../TeleNano) and [TeleMini](../TeleMini), which do not have 
+on-board charging capability.
+
+## Features ##
+
+### User View ###
+
+* Wall-wart power supply to our standard 2mm LiPo battery connector
+* 1.0 x 0.4 inch board 
+
+### Developer View ###
+
+* Hardware Features
+       * [Microchip MCP73837](http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=en531507) Li-ion battery charger chip
+       * Strain-relief holes for soldering to wall-wart leads
+* Tools Used
+       * [gEDA](http://www.gpleda.org/) for schematic capture and PCB layout
+* Licenses
+       * The hardware is licensed under the [TAPR](http://www.tapr.org) [Open Hardware License](http://www.tapr.org/ohl.html)
+
+## Artifacts ##
+
+The design files can be found on [git.gag.com](http://git.gag.com) in the 
+project [hw/lipocharger](http://git.gag.com/?p=hw/lipocharger;a=summary).  
+
+## Future Plans ##
+
+We need to build and evaluate some prototypes, and review costing, before 
+deciding whether this design will go into production.