Combined system-on-a-chip (SOC) and DC wall charger technology reduces battery recharge times for smartphones and tablets by up to half

TAIWAN, Hsinchu – 27 February, 2014 – MediaTek today announced Pump ExpressTM, a fast-charging technology for smartphones and tablets.

When incorporated into a mobile device’s power management integrated circuit (PMIC) and corresponding DC wall charger, MediaTek Pump ExpressTM cuts mobile device battery recharge times by half, compared to a standard USB charger. Shorter recharge times mean less waiting around for a mobile device to be ready to use. Pump ExpressTM allows a mobile device to negotiate with the DC wall charger to determine the initial voltage required to recharge the battery, based on its current charge. The voltage is then gradually increased to up to 5V to maximize the charging current, while keeping the battery safely within its thermal limits. Pump ExpressTM  technology is available in two forms to suit different battery capacities.  Pump ExpressTM is designed for DC wall chargers with an output of less than 10W (5V), while Pump ExpressTMPlus is for chargers with an output of 15W or more (up to 12V).

“The long wait while a battery recharges has been a persistent inconvenience for smartphone and tablet users,” said Jeffrey Ju, General Manager of MediaTek’s Smartphone Business Unit. “By cutting typical recharge times by up to 50%, Pump Express means mobile devices spend less time tied to a wall socket and its cost-effective design offers manufacturers a simple and effective way to bring fast-charging technology to market.”

Select MediaTek smartphone and tablet systems-on-a-chip already support fast-charging technology. Pump ExpressTM technology is available on all MediaTek’s mobile SOCs. MediaTek also plans to incorporate the technology into its upcoming products.

MediaTek Pump ExpressTM technology is expected to be available in commercial devices by the first half of 2014.

About MediaTek

Since 1997, MediaTek has been a pioneering fabless semiconductor company and a market leader in cutting-edge systems-on-chip (SoC) for mobile devices, wireless networking, HDTV, DVD and Blu-ray. Our tightly-integrated, innovative chip designs help manufacturers optimize supply chains, reduce the development time of new products, and extend a competitive edge in crowded markets. Through MediaTek Labs, the company is also building a developer hub that will support device creation, application development, and services for the Internet of Things era. By building technologies that help connect individuals to the world around them, MediaTek is enabling people to expand their horizons and more easily achieve their goals. We believe anyone can achieve something amazing. And we believe they can do it every single day. We call this idea Everyday Genius and it drives everything we do. Visit mediatek.com for more information.