Power management gauge measures multi-cell batteries

MANHASSET, NY -- Today’s multi-cell lithium battery designs in portable industrial and medical equipment need a more accurate way to measure remaining battery capacity.  Texas Instruments today introduced the first in a family of multi-chemistry, multi-cell battery management gas gauge circuits using the company’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. Future chip versions will support lead acid, NiCd and NiMH.

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.

Samples and evaluation module are available.