PCA9422 - Ultra-Low-Power Charger+Gauge PMIC | NXP | i.MX RT500
MPN: PCA9422LUKZ β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
PCA9422LUKZ Overview
A PMIC (power management IC) is a semiconductor device that integrates multiple power functions - battery charging, voltage regulation, load switching and monitoring - into a single die, replacing several discrete regulators and chargers on the PCB. Within the power-management hierarchy, the PCA9422 sits above simple LDOs and charger ICs, acting as the single power tree for a battery-operated embedded system.
Key differentiating features include the 640 mA linear charger with CC/CV control, integrated battery gauging support for state-of-charge reporting, and an ultra-low quiescent footprint suited to coin-cell and small Li-ion batteries. Highly-integrated regulation rails reduce external component count and board area, which is critical in wearables and compact IoT nodes.
Architecturally, the PCA9422 combines the charge path, system power-path management and regulated output rails under digital control, allowing the host MCU to configure charging current, system voltage and power modes over its control interface. This coordination minimizes battery stress and extends runtime in duty-cycled sensor applications.
Typical applications include i.MX RT500/RT600/RT700-based wearable and hearable designs, Bluetooth Low Energy smart sensors, small battery-powered medical patches, and portable human-machine-interface devices where board space and battery capacity are constrained.
Design consideration: because the charger is linear, thermal dissipation scales with the input-to-battery voltage differential - at high charge currents, evaluate worst-case power dissipation and PCB copper area around the WLCSP ballout.
This page synthesizes distributor listings, the NXP datasheet, drop-in variant cross-references and practical design notes not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PCA9422LUKZ β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with PCA9422LUKZ (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Maximum Charge Current, Mounting Type, Target Processors.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PCA9422BUKZ
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
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View Datasheet βPCA9422LUK
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PCA9422BUK
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PCA9422AUK
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PCA9422LUKZ Specifications
| Function | Ultra-low-power charger + gauge PMIC |
| Target Processors | i.MX RT500, RT600, RT700 |
| Charger Type | Linear, CC/CV |
| Maximum Charge Current | 640 mA |
| Package | 49-WLCSP (3 x 2.9 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Gauging | Integrated battery gauge support |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Applications | Low-power microcontroller, small battery applications |
PCA9422LUKZ 49-wlcsp (3 x 2.9 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for PCA9422LUKZ (49-wlcsp (3 x 2.9 mm) package). Pin numbering, functions, and connection diagrams are defined in the manufacturer datasheet. Refer to it for the exact footprint and soldering guidelines.
No detailed pinout data available for PCA9422LUKZ.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
PCA9422LUKZ is suitable for 6 applications: i.MX RT500 Wearables and Hearables, Bluetooth Low Energy Smart Sensors, Portable Medical Patches and Health Monitors, Handheld HMI and Remote Controls, Asset Tracking Tags, Smart Toys and Consumer Small-Battery Devices.
i.MX RT500 Wearables and Hearables
The PCA9422 is NXP's designated power companion for i.MX RT500-based wearables and hearables. Its 640 mA CC/CV linear charger matches the charge requirements of small Li-ion/Li-po cells (typically 100-500 mAh) used in earbuds and fitness bands, while integrated gauging support lets the RT500 report state-of-charge without a separate fuel-gauge IC. In the reference design, the PCA9422 regulates the system rail from the battery and coordinates power modes with the RT500's low-power states, so sleep current stays within the microamp budget that multi-week wearable battery life demands. Placement of the WLCSP over a solid ground pour keeps charge-path thermal rise low at peak 640 mA charge current.
Recommended
Bluetooth Low Energy Smart Sensors
Battery-powered BLE sensor nodes benefit from the PCA9422's ultra-low-power architecture: the charger handles USB/5V input charging at up to 640 mA while the PMIC rails supply the BLE SoC and sensors from the battery. Because the PMIC was designed for small-battery systems, its power-path management prevents the system from browning out during cold-battery insertion or deep-discharge recovery - a common failure mode in discrete charger + LDO designs. The gauging interface lets the node schedule transmissions based on remaining capacity, extending effective battery life. Compact 3 x 2.9 mm WLCSP footprint fits coin-cell-adjacent PCBs typical of BLE beacon and asset-tag form factors.
Recommended
Portable Medical Patches and Health Monitors
Small medical wearables such as ECG patches and continuous temperature monitors use the i.MX RT600 with the PCA9422 power tree. The linear CC/CV charger provides gentle, controlled charging of the small cells used in skin-contact devices, and gauging support enables safe end-of-service indicators required in disposable medical electronics. Integration of charging, power-path and regulation in one die reduces the component count on ultra-thin flexible PCBs where a discrete charger plus multiple LDOs would not fit. Designers should derate charge current for enclosed patches, since the linear charger dissipates (VIN - VBAT) x ICHG during fast-charge phases.
Recommended
Handheld HMI and Remote Controls
Voice remote controls and handheld human-machine-interface devices based on i.MX RT700 combine audio processing with wireless connectivity - a load profile well matched to the PCA9422. The PMIC's rails supply the RT700 during active voice capture while its low quiescent operation preserves battery during idle periods. The 640 mA charger recharges the small pack quickly between uses, and the gauge keeps the UI battery indicator accurate. Because the PCA9422 was co-developed with the RT700 power architecture, power-mode transitions (active to shallow sleep) are sequenced correctly by design, eliminating the race conditions that hand-rolled discrete power trees often exhibit.
Recommended
Asset Tracking Tags
Battery-powered asset trackers require multi-month to multi-year runtime from small cells; the PCA9422's ultra-low-power PMIC rails support the duty-cycled operation of GNSS/BLE trackers built on the i.MX RT500/RT600. The charger accepts USB or wireless-charger receiver input for opportunistic top-up charging at up to 640 mA, and gauging data allows the fleet-management firmware to report battery health alongside location. The tiny 3 x 2.9 mm WLCSP keeps the power section under 10 mm squared of PCB area, leaving room for antenna keep-outs. Cold-chain trackers benefit from the controlled CC/CV profile when charging at reduced temperature requires current derating.
Recommended
Smart Toys and Consumer Small-Battery Devices
Interactive toys, small speakers and connected gadgets built around NXP's low-power MCU families use the PCA9422 to consolidate the entire power section into one WLCSP device. The integrated 640 mA CC/CV charger supports convenient USB charging of the small pack, while the PMIC rails drive MCU, LEDs and audio amplifiers from battery. Gauging support enables child-friendly battery indicators without a second IC. The single-die approach also simplifies certification of the power section, since charging behavior is fully specified by NXP rather than assembled from discrete parts. Evaluate charge-current setting versus toy enclosure thermal limits, as linear charging concentrates dissipation in this small package.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PCA9422LUKZ β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PCA9422BUKZ | PCA9422LUK | PCA9422AUK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 49-WLCSP (3 x 2.9 mm) | 49-WLCSP (3 x 2.9 mm) - same | 49-WLCSP (3 x 2.9 mm) - same | 49-WLCSP (3 x 2.9 mm) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Max Charge Current | 640 mA | 640 mA | 640 mA | 640 mA |
| Charger Topology | Linear CC/CV | Linear CC/CV | Linear CC/CV | Linear CC/CV |
| Target MCUs | i.MX RT500/RT600/RT700 | i.MX RT500/RT600/RT700 | i.MX RT500/RT600/RT700 | i.MX RT500/RT600/RT700 |
| Packing | Tape & Reel (Z suffix) | Tape & Reel | Non-reel packing | Non-reel packing |
| Configuration Grade | LUK grade | BUK grade (per NXP suffix table) | LUK grade (same as LUKZ) | AUK grade |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated charger + gauge in one die (vs Discrete charger + fuel gauge (e.g., MCP73831 + MAX17048))
- Co-designed with i.MX RT500/RT600/RT700 (vs Generic charger PMICs (TI BQ25180-class))
- Family flexibility within the same footprint (vs PCA9422BUKZ / PCA9422AUK variants)
Design Notes
The PCA9422 uses a linear CC/CV charger, so during fast charge the die dissipates approximately (VIN - VBAT) x ICHG. Estimated example: at 5 V input, 3.0 V battery and the full 640 mA charge current, dissipation is about 1.28 W in a 3 x 2.9 mm WLCSP - substantial for a chip-scale package. Derate charge current via the PMIC's programmable setting for large input-to-battery differentials, and provide via-in-pad fanout to inner ground planes under the WLCSP. Verify junction temperature against the datasheet thermal resistance before enabling maximum charge current in enclosed products.
WLCSP assembly requires careful land-pattern and underfill decisions per the NXP datasheet layout guidelines. Follow the recommended PCB land pattern exactly (NSMD pads are typical for WLCSP) and route the battery, system and input power balls with short, wide traces capable of 640 mA continuous. Place input and battery decoupling capacitors within 1-2 mm of the associated balls. Because the ballout is NXP-proprietary, do not attempt cross-brand second sourcing on this footprint - lock the footprint to the PCA9422 family in your CAD library.
Ordering suffix matters: LUK, BUK and AUK denote different configuration grades per the NXP ordering-information table, and only the Z suffix is tape-and-reel for automated assembly. Qualifying a BUK board with an AUK part may change default power-up states or feature availability. Always download the current datasheet revision from nxp.com (not third-party mirrors) before tape-out, and confirm the configured charge current and rail defaults match your i.MX RT-series reference design.
Compliance Information
RoHS-compliant lead-free product per NXP standard product policy for active parts; Z suffix denotes standard RoHS tape-and-reel packing. REACH/halogen/conflict-minerals declarations available via NXP compliance portal - not present in provided data.
