Date: 26/09/2008

High Voltage multi-cell battery monitoring IC from Linear Technology

Linear Technology launched the LTC6802, a highly integrated multi-cell battery-monitoring IC. Designed for the environmental and reliability challenges of automotive and industrial applications, the new chip is capable of measuring up to 12 individual battery cells.

The unique feature of this device is that it allows multiple LTC6802s to be stacked in series without optocouplers or isolators, for precision voltage monitoring of every cell in long strings of series-connected batteries.

Nowadays Li-Ion batteries are becoming popular to power many automotive and industrial applications as they hold superior energy density. However a nice long-lasting Li-Ion battery stack design faces many complexities, because they are very sensitive to overcharging and over-discharging. It requires each cell in the stack to be managed carefully. Linear Technology says that the new chip is capable of managing it very accurately & quickly even at stack voltage over 1000V.

Some of the key features of the IC are listed below.

1. The maximum measurement error is less than 0.25% from -40°C to 85°C
2. All cell voltages in a battery stack can be measured within 13ms.
3. Each cell is monitored for under-voltage and over-voltage conditions
4. In-built ADC with Inherent FIR Filtering
5. Each IC communicates via a 1MHz serial interface with Packet Error Checking.
6. Onboard MOSFET switch is available to discharge overcharged cells.
7. Temperature sensor Inputs.
8. Includes GPIO lines.
9. Built-in precision 3V reference & 5V regulator
10. Diagnostics & fault detection
12. Operating temperature range of -40°C to 85°C

Pricing: $9.95 each in 1,000-piece quantities,
Packaging: 44-Lead SSOP Package
Size: 8mm x 12mm

Availability: will be in volume production by Q4 2008.
Samples, demo-boards and the data sheet are now available.

For further information please log on to: http://www.linear.com