Simple and easy power-OK indic

Undervoltage/overvoltage (UV/OV) indicators, also called Power-OK (POK) indicators, can notify portable-equipment users when the battery voltage is too low or the battery is being overcharged. POK indicators usually control an external FET to block the supply voltage during such faults. They're also useful as shown, as simple indicators without the FET.
A similar version of this article appeared in the May 1, 2008 issue of PET.

A Power-OK (POK) indicator lights an LED when the power is on and within a specified range. Also known as an undervoltage/overvoltage (UV/OV) indicator, the indicator notifies portable-equipment users when the battery voltage is too low or the battery is being overcharged.

Though it's not difficult to design a circuit for this purpose using a logic gate, two comparators, three bypass capacitors, an LED, and five resistors, the Figure 1 circuit saves board space while lowering cost.


Figure 1. Residing in a 1.0mm x 1.5mm μDFN package, this IC illuminates the LED as long as the power is OK. When an under- or over-voltage condition appears, it turns off the LED and issues a warning to the μC.

Overvoltage protectors of the MAX4923–MAX4926 family usually connect the power source and load through an external p-channel FET, which is normally ON as long as the power is OK. The devices come with factory-preset voltage thresholds as listed in Table 1.

Table 1. UV and OV thresholds for MAX4923–MAX4926 protectors

Device	Package	OV Threshold (V)	UV Threshold (V)
MAX4923ELT+*	6 pin μDFN	7.18	2.44
MAX4924ELT+	6 pin μDFN	6.16	2.44
MAX4925ELT+	6 pin μDFN	5.65	2.44
MAX4926ELT+	6 pin μDFN	4.46	2.44

*Future product—contact factory for availability.

These ICs, however, can also serve as simple power-OK indicators. Use the following equation to calculate R in Figure 1: , where (for example) I ≤ 10mA, the typical R_ON at 25°C is 160Ω, and V_IN is the applied source voltage.