TI unveils breakthrough battery monitoring technology for lead-acid batteries

DALLAS, April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) today introduced the first lead-acid battery management gas gauge integrated circuit with TI's proprietary Impedance Track™ capacity measurement technology. The bq34z110 gas gauge IC, which comes in a small 14-pin package, is the industry's only scalable power management device to support multi-cell lead-acid battery packs with battery voltages of 4 V, 12 V, 24 V, 48 V and higher. The highly accurate, simple-to-use gauge supports batteries used in mobile and stationary applications like medical instruments, wireless base stations and telecom shelters, e-bikes, inverters and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). For samples visit: www.ti.com/bq34z110-pr.   

95-percent accurate monitoring for lead acid

Lead-acid batteries typically behave better than lithium chemistries in environments with wide temperature ranges. However, today's lead-acid battery designs do not accurately measure and report current battery capacity, which often frustrates the end user, and could mean adding more batteries to keep the system adequately charged. The new bq34z110 gauge with Impedance Track technology constantly informs a user about the battery's state-of-health and state-of-charge and maintains up to a 95-percent accurate capacity measurement for the entire life of the battery. This information also prevents premature shutdown, increasing the longevity of the battery and end-equipment.

Key features and benefits of the bq34z110:

• Industry's first multi-cell scalable battery gauge to support a wide range of lead acid batteries (4 V to 64 V), including large capacity batteries (1 Ahr to 65 Ahr and higher) and high-current applications (0 A to 32 A and higher).
• 95-percent accurate battery capacity measurement with TI's Impedance Track proprietary algorithm, which uses current, voltage measurements, temperature and battery characteristics to determine battery state-of-charge, state-of-health and capacity.
• Easy setup configuration with application notes, user guide and bq34z110EVM evaluation module.

Battery management for any battery chemistry

TI provides battery charge management and capacity monitoring integrated circuits that meet the power requirements of any battery chemistry – from the smallest coin-cell to the largest multi-cell battery pack. In addition to the bq34z110 gas gauge, TI's 10-A bq24650 and bq24450 charger ICs support battery charge management to multi-cell lead-acid batteries. TI also introduced the bq34z100 lithium-based multi-chemistry, multi-cell battery gas gauge, which supports a wide range of lithium-ion and lithium iron phosphate chemistries in 1- to 16-cell batteries.

TI analog for industrial electronics

TI is the industrial semiconductor leader, providing a diverse and readily available portfolio of analog integrated circuits (ICs) for a broad range of applications, including smart grid, factory automation, high-voltage power, LED lighting and control.  TI data converters, amplifiers, interface, isolation, clocking, and power management devices enable customers to differentiate their products, while TI software, design tools and reference designs simplify and accelerate design cycles. Learn how TI analog innovations are improving industrial safety, efficiency and reliability at www.ti.com/industrial-pr.

Availability and pricing

The bq34z110 fuel gauge for lead acid-based batteries is available now in a 14-pin, 5-mm x 6-mm TSSOP package, priced at US$2.30 in quantities of 1,000. The bq34z110EVM is available through TI eStore for US$49.

Find out more about TI's battery management portfolio:

• Review TI's entire battery management portfolio for industrial applications: www.ti.com/batteryindustrial-pr.  
• Ask questions and help solve problems in the Battery Forum in the TI E2E™ Community: www.ti.com/batteryforum-pr.
• Download TI's Battery Management Solutions Guide: www.ti.com/bmsguide-pr.

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is a global semiconductor design and manufacturing company that develops analog ICs and embedded processors. By employing the world's brightest minds, TI creates innovations that shape the future of technology. TI is helping more than 100,000 customers transform the future, today. Learn more at www.ti.com.

Trademarks

TI E2E and Impedance Track are trademarks of Texas Instruments. All registered trademarks and other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated