03 Jul 2012

TI introduces multi-cell, multi-chemistry battery gas gauge for lithium batteries

Texas Instruments has introduced the first in a family of multi-chemistry, multi-cell battery management gas gauge circuits with it’s proprietary Impedance Track capacity measurement technology.

The bq34z100 power management chip is the first gas gauge in the industry to support a wide range of lithium-ion and lithium iron phosphate chemistries in 2- to 16-cell battery packs, extending battery run-time in applications like medical instruments, power tools, e-bikes and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).

TI also plans to introduce new gauges this year to support lead acid, nickel cadmium and nickel metal hydride chemistries.

Today’s multi-cell lithium battery designs in portable industrial and medical equipment need a more accurate way to measure remaining battery capacity.

The bq34z100 battery gauge leverages Impedance Track technology, which uses charge voltage measurements, battery characteristics and properties to determine a battery’s state-of-health and maintain up to a 94-percent accurate capacity measurement for the entire life of the battery.

The circuit also works independently of series-cell configuration, and can reduce power consumption through an external voltage translation circuit.

Key features and benefits of the bq34z100: - First multi-cell gauge to support Li-Ion and LiFePO4 battery chemistries, with future versions supporting lead acid, NiCd and NiMH

• Highly accurate battery capacity measurement with TI’s Impedance Track proprietary algorithm

• Tools to speed the design include bq34z100EVM evaluation module, software and MathCAD chemistry selection tool

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