NXP introduces the new lineup of Battery-Cell Controller Integrated Circuits

NXP introduces the new lineup of Battery-Cell Controller Integrated Circuits

NXP Semiconductors has unveiled a new family of battery-cell controller Integrated Circuits (ICs), the BMx7318 and BMx7518 series. These ICs are designed to revolutionize battery management systems (BMS) in electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage systems (ESS), and other applications.

Key Features of BMx7318 and BMx7518 ICs

1. High Integration and Scalability: The ICs can manage up to 18 battery cells per IC, enabling scalable configurations for large battery packs. They support daisy-chaining multiple ICs to manage battery packs with hundreds of cells efficiently.
2. Advanced Safety and Monitoring: Precision voltage measurement, built-in Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) for accurate cell voltage monitoring, on-chip temperature sensing support, diagnostics, integrated watchdog timers, built-in self-test features, overvoltage, undervoltage, and overtemperature protection features are some of the safety features offered by these ICs.
3. Robust Communication Interfaces: The ICs support various communication protocols such as SPI, UART, or I2C to integrate seamlessly with BMS microcontrollers. They offer high-speed and noise-immune communication suitable for automotive environments.
4. Low Power Consumption: Designed with low quiescent current, these ICs aim to extend battery life and improve energy efficiency in battery systems.
5. Automotive-grade Reliability: The ICs are automotive-grade qualified (AEC-Q100 compliant), ensuring robust operation under harsh automotive conditions. They offer extended temperature ranges and robust ESD protection.
6. Simplified PCB Design: Reduction in external components due to high integration reduces PCB size and complexity, lowering overall system cost.

Benefits of BMx7318 and BMx7518 ICs

1. Enhanced Battery Safety and Longevity: Precise and reliable cell monitoring allows for early detection of faults, preventing battery damage and improving battery lifespan.
2. Improved System Reliability: Self-test and diagnostic features enable proactive fault management and maintenance.
3. Scalability and Flexibility: Easily adaptable to various battery configurations and sizes, making them ideal for both EVs and stationary storage systems.
4. Cost and Size Optimization: Integration and reduced external part count decrease overall system Bill of Materials (BOM) cost and footprint.
5. Faster Time-to-Market: Robust development support and standard interfaces help OEMs speed up system integration and deployment.

The BMx7318 and BMx7518 chips can support "semi-centralized" architectures, yielding system-level cost savings while enhancing the performance and stability of the overall BMS. The new controllers are based on a more advanced analog front-end architecture that keeps the cell sampling channels completely independent, reducing crosstalk.

The new family of ICs delivers high-resolution voltage, current, and temperature sensing at the cell and pack levels. They are designed to deter electromagnetic interference (EMI) and are rigorously designed and tested to withstand electrical variations during charging or discharging, harsh temperatures, mechanical pressure, vibrations, and physical stress common in EVs.

NXP's proprietary isolated daisy-chain protocol called TPL is used to connect several of the chips together in battery packs with larger numbers of cells. The system features an ultra-low-power mode that consumes only 5 μA, designed to meet the needs of long-term energy storage.

The new controllers use NXP's proprietary isolated daisy-chain protocol called TPL to connect several of the chips together in battery packs with larger numbers of cells. They are designed to deliver faster, more accurate insights into what's happening inside a battery, thanks to a more advanced analog front-end architecture and ADCs on each input channel.

NXP said the chips are automotive- and industrial-grade, complying with ASIL C (under ISO 26262) and SIL-2 (under IEC 61508) standards for functional safety. They can monitor voltages in up to 18 cells at a time and integrate current sensing through a separate shunt resistor. The new ICs feature configurable averaging of cell voltage measurements through digital filtering and support passive cell balancing to maximize the usable capacity.

The new controllers feature all-channel parallel cell balancing up to 150 mA, capable of operating in environments up to 125°C. They can act as a battery disconnect unit (BDU), monitoring the integrity of insulation used for thermal management inside the battery and preventing short circuits and other hazards. The new NXP battery-cell controller ICs can measure cell voltages to within 1 mV while covering a cell voltage range of -0.3 to 5.0 V.

Several firms, including Eatron and Qnovo, are adding artificial intelligence (AI) into BMS software to enhance state estimation and optimize battery operation in real-time. These chips can measure voltages in up to 18 battery cells and track up to 12 temperature sensors simultaneously. As battery cells charge and discharge, they also literally swell and shrink, leading to volume changes that can cause batteries to age prematurely and lose storage capacity.

NXP plans to roll out the new family of battery-management ICs more broadly in late 2025. The BMS plays a crucial role in everything from EVs to backup power supplies in AI data centers, as it controls how each cell in the pack charges, discharges, and ages. Overcharging or undercharging typically shortens the battery's lifespan or interrupts the charging process prematurely. One of the main risks is thermal runaway, a condition in which one of the battery cells overheats uncontrollably.

In summary, NXP’s BMx7318 and BMx7518 battery-cell controller ICs provide a highly integrated, reliable, and flexible solution for next-generation battery management systems, focusing on safety, scalability, and efficiency.

1. The BMx7318 and BMx7518 ICs, designed by NXP Semiconductors, are revolutionary in the field of science, particularly in environmental science and the industry, as they focus on improving battery management systems in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and other applications.
2. These ICs, with their advanced features, aim to support renewable energy by enhancing the safety, longevity, and efficiency of batteries, thereby contributing to the mitigation of climate-change effects.
3. Leveraging technology, such as data-and-cloud-computing, the ICs offer insights into battery performance, allowing for real-time optimization and fault management, contributing to faster time-to-market and cost savings in the finance sector.
4. The inclusion of artificial intelligence in BMS software, combined with ICs like the BMx7318 and BMx7518, can lead to more efficient energy usage, longer battery lifespan, and reduced premature aging, all of which are crucial in the face of the growing climate-change challenge.

Read also: