Texas Instruments (TI) has introduced an integrated battery monitor and protector to measure 16 battery cells at one time. The bq76PL455A-Q1 provides accurate cell-voltage monitoring for large batteries with up to 256 cells in a series and can enable a more intelligent battery management in electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and grid energy storage systems.
The bq76PL455A-Q1 enables accurate computation of a battery pack’s state of charge and state of health by precisely measuring cell voltage and also provides active and passive cell-balancing support to extract the maximum amount of energy from the battery. Passive cell balancing compensates for charging voltage mismatches, while active cell balancing maximizes the amount of each charge. For hybrid and electric vehicles, this can lead to a decreased production cost for manufacturers while supporting an increased mileage range for drivers.
System integrators use the bq76PL455A-Q1 to develop innovative battery management systems including considerations for efficiencies and safety. “Preh was pleased to work with TI to implement design features that differentiate our battery management system offering,” said Dr. Joachim Wagner, Head of Product Management and Pre-Development, Preh GmbH. “We intend to use our solution in several automotive and non-automotive applications providing our customers with innovative solutions.”
The bq76PL455A-Q1 evaluation module (bq76PL455EVM) and bq76PL455A-Q1-EVM-GUI-SW graphical user interface tool enables customers to evaluate device features and performance to help speed time to market. A TI Design reference design is also available for step-by-step guidance for passive balancing.
The bq76PL455A-Q1 device is now available in the TI store and through the company’s authorized distribution network. The product comes in a thin quad flat pack (TQFP) 80 package and is priced at $14.95 in 1,000-unit quantities.
