Seiko Instruments introduced a 3-serial and 4-serial cell LI-ION Battery Protection ICs (BPIC) with three levels of over-current detection. The S-8243A/B Series incorporates high-accuracy battery protection circuits, a battery monitor amp and a voltage regulator, therefore decreasing external component count and reducing board space by 50%. Seiko’s S-8243 BPIC features good accuracy for over-charge (&#17725 mV), over-discharge (&#17780 mV) and over-current 1 (&#17725 mV) detection voltages. The S-8243 consumes 120 m A while operating and 0.1 m A in power-down mode. Housed in a 16-pin TSSOP package, the S-8243 measures only 5.1 mm by 6.4 mm and 1.1 mm tall. The S-8243A is designed for three-cell applications and the S-8243B for four-cell applications.