I can assure you that IMOE that is NOT the topology of most small (aka hand-held) appliances that employ Li-Ion cells. They employ (at most) a pack protection module which monitors the parameters you describe but this does NOT provide the charge control function, merely providing the safety element. In appliances such as typical cellphones which employ a single cell (i.e. operate at 3v6 nominal) there is frequently NO electronics whatsoever in the pack.