Product category: Batteries and Chargers
News Release from: Saft Lithium Battery Division | Subject: MP series
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 04 July 2008
Tablet PC switches to Li-ion battery
pack
Advanced Li-ion battery technology provides a number of key operational advantages, including increased reliability, enhanced safety and extended cycle life.
Saft is supplying thousands of MP series lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries to JLT Mobile Computers of Sweden to power its new JLT8404 rugged field tablet PC designed for mobile computing applications in extreme environments This major order has resulted from JLT's strategic decision to switch from lithium-polymer batteries, as fitted to its previous handheld tablet PCs, to Saft's advanced Li-ion battery technology that provides a number of key operational advantages, including increased reliability, enhanced safety and extended cycle life
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 16 Nov 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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The JLT8404 field tablet PC, which weighs just 1.8kg, has been designed as the perfect tool for demanding field work applications such as mining, construction, forestry, transportation and shipping.
It features a robust cast-aluminium housing, sealed against dust and water ingress, and comes with WLAN and Bluetooth as standard and can also be equipped with radiocommunications applications such as GSM, GPRS, UMTS, WCMDA and GPS.
The resistive touchscreen with daylight-visible configuration makes the JLT8404 particularly easy to use.
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According to Jan Olofsson, major owner and CEO of JLT Mobile Computers: "Battery selection was a vital factor in the design of the JLT8404".
"A field tablet computer spends most of its life outside operating under battery power".
"That means that the battery must deliver excellent performance, with a high level of autonomy between charges and fast-charging capability".
"But it is also just as important that the battery remains completely reliable, even when subjected to high levels of shock, vibration and extreme temperatures".
"We were also looking for a battery that would ensure an optimised life in terms of charge/discharge cycles".
"Clearly, only a rechargeable lithium battery could meet our exacting requirements".
"However, we decided to switch from Li-polymer to Li-ion technology after Saft demonstrated through our strict test programme that its MP battery not only offered a longer cycle life, it also offered an enhanced level of safety thanks to its multiple safety devices at both the individual cell level and the battery level".
The JLT8404 battery comprises two Saft MP 174865 cells in series, providing a nominal 7.3V and 5.3Ah capacity.
Saft supplies the battery to JLT as a complete pack ready to "plug and play" including cells, electronics, connector, casing and SMbus communication capability.
The battery is hot swappable, enabling the field Tablet user to work all day simply by changing the battery, without the need to recharge or reboot.
Saft MP cells are completely maintenance free, and hermetically sealed at temperatures up to +75C.
And, in addition to the electronic protection circuits that monitor individual cells within battery packs, the MP cells benefit from well-proven safety features such as: a built-in circuit breaker (that enable the fast, automatic disconnection of cells from faulty chargers); a safety vent (operating when cell internal pressure exceeds 8bar); and a shutdown separator (with pores that automatically get clogged in case of accidental short circuit).
Saft has designed its MP cells to withstand the most common field abuses, such as mechanical shock and vibration, as well as external short-circuit, crushing, nail piercing and so on.
Their operating temperature range during discharge starts at -50C and continues up to +60C, and they can be charged over a temperature range between -20 and +60C. Request a free brochure from Saft Lithium Battery Division ...
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