Battery Management

Analog Devices battery cell balancers devices include fault-protected controller ICs for transformer-based, bidirectional active balancing of multicell battery stacks, as well as monolithic flyback dc-to-dc converters designed to actively balance high voltage stacks of batteries. Our devices include unique, level-shifting SPI-compatible serial interfaces, with active balancing that allows for capacitive recovery in stacks of mismatched batteries—a feat unattainable with passive balance systems.

Analog Devices offers a broad portfolio of battery charger IC devices for any rechargeable battery chemistry, including Li-Ion, LiFePO₄, lead acid, and nickel-based, for both wired and wireless applications. These high performance battery charging devices are offered in linear or switching topologies and are completely autonomous in operation.

Our battery charger ICs offer many standard features for battery management and safety, including on-chip battery pre-conditioning, current limiting, temperature-controlled charging, monitoring and protection, telemetry via SMBus or I²C interface, and support for high voltage, multiple-cell and multi-chemistry batteries with a single device.

ADI’s battery chargers support wide range of applications such as lithium ion battery monitoring, PV cell energy harvesting, industrial monitoring, wearable devices, and other portable equipment.

Combining a high performance battery charger with one or more integrated DC/DC regulators, Analog Devices’ multifunction Battery Charger Plus products provide battery charging and multiple system rails in both portable and other types of products. A high level of integration is offered by the Battery Charger Plus devices in a small footprint, with small total solution size and ease of use. The on-chip DC/DC regulator(s) may be either a switching regulator for maximum efficiency and battery run time, or a linear regulator for design simplicity. Key charger features include standalone operation with onboard charge termination, high charge current accuracy and float voltage accuracy.

Analog Devices’ compact, bidirectional battery disconnect switch with ultralow on resistance is ideal for use in space-limited applications, such as smartphones, tablets, and other portable electronic devices.

Analog Devices’ battery management gas gauges and coulomb counters accurately measure and report battery capacity in single cell or multicell handheld applications. Charge accuracy is uncompromised thanks to a variety of unique sensing techniques that appear seamless to the user. High-side current sensing allows downstream failure detection and avoids ground disturbance. Analog integrators digitize charge directly, resulting in cancelled amplifier offsets, minimal gain error, and better overall charge accuracy. Some models also provide battery voltage and temperature, while others integrate a sense resistor to minimize component count and increase accuracy even further. All devices have small footprints and provide simple digital interfacing with a host processor.

Analog Devices’ battery identification ICs provide data storage and serial number identification for battery packs. Cyclic redundancy check (CRC) verification provides data integrity during communication. The low voltage 1-Wire® interface of our battery ID ICs enables serial communication on a single battery contact. The 64-bit unique serial number allows multidrop networking and identification of individual devices. Our battery authentication ICs employ hardware-based Secure Hash Algorithm-1 (SHA-1) token authentication. This allows for security without the added cost and complexity of a microprocessor-based system. Battery authentication is performed using a single contact through the 1-Wire interface.

Analog Devices’ integrated battery monitor ICs provide high accuracy measurements for precise voltage determination. The high cell count enables a flexible system architecture while our simultaneous sampling improves cell balancing and battery pack lifetime.

Analog Devices precision analog front ends and controllers for testing and monitoring battery cells simplify design by providing excellent accuracy, performance over temperature, flexibility with functionality, and overall reliability in a space saving package. Our devices measure battery charge/discharge current through precision fixed gain and programmable gain instrumentation amplifiers, and measure battery voltage via fixed gain and programmable gain difference amplifiers. Applications: • Battery cell formation and testing • Battery module testing

Analog Devices’ family of multicell, high voltage battery stack monitors are complete battery monitoring ICs that include 16-bit ADCs, precision voltage references, a high voltage input multiplexer, and a serial interface. Parts can be connected in series, without optocouplers or isolators, to allow the monitoring of every cell in a long string of series-connected batteries. Applications include electric and hybrid electric vehicles, high power portable equipment, backup battery systems, and high voltage data acquisition systems.

A power management integrated circuit (PMIC) is a highly integrated device with many functional circuit blocks onboard. The high level of integration provides many benefits, including reduced printed circuit board (PCB) space, simpler design, faster time to market, and a reduced bill of material (BoM) cost. Analog Devices’ PMICs with battery chargers or USB power managers address battery charging and provide multiple system rails in portable products, all in a compact form factor. PowerPath control allows for seamless transitions and manages power flow between different input sources such as a wall adapter, USB port, and lithium battery while preferentially providing power to the system load. Highly efficient switch-mode power battery management enables higher charge currents from both wall adapter and USB-based power sources. For this family of PMICs, standalone operation, high charge current, and float voltage accuracy and thermal regulation are key battery charger features; additionally, dc-to-dc converters include both switching and linear regulators.

Analog Devices provides the industry’s smallest and most advanced family of SPI/I²C (I²C) UARTs. Our UART family includes single-, dual-, or quad-channel options, along with UARTs that integrate RS-232 or RS-485 transceivers. These products are optimized to handle many different communication protocols for use in both industrial and mobile applications. Maxim’s UARTs are perfect for applications where additional input/output resources are needed in a design. Our UARTs feature SPI and I²C interfaces, allowing you to add communication channels through an already existing I²C or SPI bus. This is commonly known as UART bridge functionality.

Thanks to USB-C and USB power delivery, compact electronic devices can now be fed by a small, single, bidirectional cable that delivers data, video, and power. Although USB Type-C and USB power delivery are making electronic devices easier to manage for end users, complying with the protocol can involve multiple hardware components, complex software, as well as custom firmware development. Our extensive portfolio of ICs for USB-C and USB power delivery designs provides high levels of integration and flexibility that engineers need to create compact, power-efficient electronics compatible with bidirectional data and power delivery requirements. Our portfolio includes chargers, converters, controllers, as well as power path and protection devices.

Analog Devices’ USB Power Manager battery charging and management products utilize key battery charging features but also include a PowerPath circuit topology that enables managed power flow, allowing a load to be powered from both VIN and the battery, shorter charging times, instant-on operation (even with a dead battery), and offer more flexibility for the device designer. Both linear charging for simplicity, and switchmode for higher charging efficiency topologies are offered. Other key features of the USB Power Manager family include standalone operation with onboard charge termination, high voltage operation and thermal regulation.

Analog Devices, Inc. wireless battery management system (wBMS) is a purpose-built solution, tailored for high reliability and the low latency requirements of automotive battery management systems. The wBMS network provides robust connectivity for the supervision of battery cells and control of the balancing current in electric vehicles or other large energy storage systems.

The wireless battery management system (wBMS) consists of ADI developed software that resides on a specifically developed system-on-chip. This low power integrated system-on-chip includes a 2.4 GHz ISM band radio and an embedded microcontroller (MCU) subsystem. These devices provide wireless communications between the battery cell monitoring chip and the battery management system controller (BMS controller).

The Analog Devices line of wireless power transfer products include receiver/chargers and transmitters, which help eliminate many of the issues that designers face when powering their applications through exposed ohmic contacts. Our wireless power transfer designs allow charging for completely sealed enclosures in applications that are exposed to dirty, humid or hazardous environments, require sterilization, or for those that are too small to use a conventional connector. Eliminating wires also allows for rechargeable batteries to be placed in moving or rotating equipment. Wireless charging can also provide transformer-less galvanic isolation for high reliability isolated applications. Our proprietary transmitter and receiver technology includes Dynamic Harmonization Control (DHC), which reduces alignment sensitivity and extends power transmission range.