Toshiba Launches Li-ion Battery Monitor Chipset for Automotive Applications

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba America Electronic Component, Inc. (TAEC)*, Corp., a committed leader that collaborates with technology companies to create break through designs, today announced its Li-ion battery monitor chipset for automotive applications. The chipset includes the industry's first¹ battery monitor IC capable of checking up to 16 cells per one IC, which simplifies design and lowers costs by reducing the number of components required in an automotive battery monitoring system. The new Toshiba chipset is ideal for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) and Electric Vehicles (EV), which require enhanced battery technology.

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"With increasing interest and adoption of electric cars, there is a growing need for chipsets that can improve the performance of the battery operation of these vehicles," said Deepak Mithani, director analog and imaging business unit, System LSI Group. "Our battery monitor chipset helps improve driving range and battery life and reduces battery costs, significant challenges for electric vehicles. We intend to aggressively expand into the battery monitor chipset business and continue providing solutions that support the unique requirements of hybrid and electric automobiles."

Toshiba's new Li-ion battery monitor chipset is comprised of the TB9141FG 16-channel battery monitor IC and the TMPM358FDTFG automotive safety microcontroller. The chipset detects remaining battery levels, equalizes charging among the cells in a battery pack (cell balancing) and can also detect abnormal battery conditions.

The TB9141FG uses a 96V mixed-signal process that allows it to monitor up to 16 cells at the same time. It also incorporates cell balancing switches for each cell and is able to measure battery voltage while cell balancing. The TB9141FG is able to communicate in a noisy environment, using differential signaling in a daisy chain communication link between two or more TB9141FGs, an important feature for automotive applications.

The TMPM358FDTFG is a 32-bit RISC microcontroller built around an ARM^® Cortex^™-M3 core and is compliant with functional safety standards such as IEC61508/ISO26262. Toshiba will provide a software library developed under an ISO26262 certified software development process² to help make it easier for customers to build a safer and more reliable battery monitoring system. The TMPM358FDTFG is designed to be used in a fault-tolerant system and includes a backup power supply for timer circuits and for retaining data in a stand-by SRAM. When it is not monitoring batteries, the TMPM358FDTFG can enter a low-power stand-by mode, leading to lower power for the total system.

Availability
The Toshiba Li-ion battery monitoring chipset, TB9141FG and TMPM358FDTFG, begins sampling in first quarter 2013. Volume production is expected by April 2014.
Single-unit sample pricing is $10 for the TB9141 and $12 for the TMPM358 (US).
For more information please visit http://www.toshiba.com.taec or http://www.toshiba.com/taec/Catalog/Line.do?familyid=28&lineid=1955932

*About TAEC
Through proven commitment, lasting relationships and advanced, reliable electronic components, Toshiba enables its customers to create market-leading designs. Toshiba is the heartbeat within product breakthroughs from OEMs, ODMs, CMs, VARs, distributors and fabless chip companies worldwide.  A committed electronic components leader, Toshiba designs and manufactures high-quality flash memory-based storage solutions, solid state drives (SSDs), hard disk drives (HDDs), discrete devices, advanced materials, medical tubes, custom SoCs/ASICs, imaging products, microcontrollers and wireless components that make possible today's leading smartphones, tablets, MP3 players, cameras, medical devices, automotive electronics, enterprise solutions and more.

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, Japan's largest semiconductor manufacturer and the world's third largest semiconductor manufacturer (Gartner, 2011 Worldwide Semiconductor Revenue, March, 2012). Toshiba Corporation was founded in 1875 and today has over 554subsidiaries and affiliates, with 210,000 employees worldwide. Visit Toshiba's web site at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.

Information in this press release, including product pricing and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current and believed to be accurate on the date of the announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice. Technical and application information contained here is subject to the most recent applicable Toshiba product specifications. In developing designs, please ensure that Toshiba products are used within specified operating ranges as set forth in the most recent Toshiba product specifications and the information set forth in Toshiba's "Handling Guide for Semiconductor Devices," or "Toshiba Semiconductor Reliability Handbook." This information is available at www.toshiba.com/taec, or from your TAEC representative.

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SOURCE Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.