Digitally managed or controlled power uses a conventional analog PWM loop but hooks in substantial digital control, beyond the ubiquitous digital-shutdown pins on most controllers (Figure 6). Digitally managed power ICs first found use in battery-charger ICs.
Older chemistries, such as lead-acid batteries, frequently used a voltage-regulator IC set to provide 2.3 to 2.36V per cell, depending on whether the application can tolerate higher charging voltages. Even these simple chargers often add ambient-temperature sensing, time limiters, or cell-temperature sensing to adjust the charge voltage. Nickel-metal-hydride and, to a greater extent, lithium-ion chemistries require even more digital supervision and manipulation...

The source page & ...MORE>>