Matsushita Battery Industrial Co., Ltd. announced Thursday it has developed a coin-type lithium-ion battery capable of delivery high currents, an industry first according to the company.
The new cell is capable of discharging around ten times as much current as previous cells, said the company in a statement.
With this characteristics, the new battery is expected to power such next generation devices as wrist-worn GPS (Global Positioning System), compact portable terminals and card-type information tools, said the company, which is a subsidiary of Japanese consumer electronics giant Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., better known by its Panasonic brand name.
Battery technology is becoming increasingly important as handheld devices get smarter and do more complex jobs. Accompanying these improvements in the performance are increases in the amount of power needed to keep them running.
The new battery, which has a capacity of 140 milli-Ampere hours (mAh) and a 500-cycle charge-discharge life, will enter mass production in October this year at the rate of 500,000 units per month. Sampling pricing has been set at 800 yen (US$6.90).
Matsushita Battery Industrial, in Osaka, can be contacted at +81-6-6991-1141 or http://www.mbi.panasonic.co.jp/.