Lithium-ion coin cells for electronic applications

Most portable devices, such as notebook, subnotebook, palmtop, and pen computers, telephones and camcorders, utilize two or three types of batteries. A cylindrical nickel-cadmium or a nickel-metal hydride battery generally serves as the main power source, and a coin lithium battery (primary or secondary) or a button nickel-cadmium battery provides power for memory back-up, real time clock and bridge (auxiliary) applications. The authors found that a lithium-ion coin cell can replace the lithium and nickel-cadmium batteries for memory back-up, real time clock and the bridge function (when available). The lithium-ion coin cell will have excellent cycle life, high rate capability, good storage characteristics and better reliability at a lower cost to the user. This paper discusses the performance characteristics of lithium-ion coin cells for these emerging electronic applications.<>