>>>>> "Peter" == Peter Homann <peterh@ADACEL.COM.AU> writes:

> Hi, Maxim have a switching regulator with an input range of .8V to
> 1.65V (single cell). I may use this in the production version of the
> product. It has a low battery indicator output which I require. Also
> it has reverse polarity protection for up to 2 minutes. After 2
> minutes, performance of the component is reduced Whatever that
> means?) I think the part number is MAX1642.

You might also want to look at the LT1110 from Linear.  Similar chip,
but specced at a maximum 750mA current with reversed battery, and rated
for continuous operation for reversed inputs less than 1.6V.

Digikey has them for $6.38 in onesies and $3.60 in hundreds.  I don't
see the MAX1642 there, so I don't know how that compares, but it might
be worth looking at.

-Ansel
--
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        Pardon my writing; I'm using voice-recognition, and I
        sometimes don't catch all the errors.