New Products

July 02, 2012 // Paul Buckley

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

The bq34z100 power management chip claims to be 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.

Availability and Pricing

The bq34z100 multi-chemistry fuel gauge for lithium-based batteries is available now in a 14-pin, 5-mm x 6-mm TSSOP package, priced at $2.10 in quantities of 1,000. TI's new bq34z110 battery gauge for lead acid batteries is planned for release in the third quarter. A new gauge for NiCd and NiMH is planned for announcement later in 2012.

More information about the bq34z100 multi-chemistry fuel gauge for lithium-based batteries at http://www.ti.com/bq34z100-pr

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Multi-cell, multi-chemistry battery gas gauge supports wide range lithium battery chemistries