> Which chemistry are YOU talking about?  There seem to be at
> least 4 major classes of chemistry involved, and some of them
> have several subclasses.  (hmm.  Li/FeS and Li/Fe2S at 1.5V 
> "nominal",
> Li/MnO2 at 3V, Li/Thionl-chloride (sp?) at 3.6V, and Li/ion at 4.1 
> or
> 4.2V (but also "3.6V nominal" or so.))
>
> I was referring to reports on Candlepower forums that the Energizer
> "L92" style Li battery (aimed at digital cameras, nominally 1.5V)
> put out 1.75V fresh, while some of the clones put out as much as 2V.
> (I think these are Li/FeS of some variety.)

Just to add confusion.
Note that standard "Alkalines" peak at just over 1.5v but Le Clanche 
and Zinc Chlorides (really variations on a theme) peak at just over 
1.6v. This can be the difference between JUST working on new batteries 
and not working at all.

I'm attracted by the idea of a discrete low dropout low quiescent 
current regulator to address this sort of task. Really good LDOs cost 
an arm and several legs. I've never understood why. On paper only I've 
designed an LDO that should offer zero current quiescent current under 
50 uA, dropout under 0.1v at a load of a few 10's of mA. Enabling 
technology is the glorious LM385 and a discrete long tailed pair. 
Maybe a new design challenge is in order. Probably 3 transistors if 
lucky plus LM385. Still cheap.

But, then I found the AIC1722 that sells at about $US0.15 in Taiwan 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Possible the best value LDO I've ever met, with performance to beat 
almost any other I've seen.

        http://www.metatech.com.hk/datasheet/aic/low_drop_regu_pdf/Aic1722.pdf


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