ams introduces simpler, more robust architecture for lithium cell monitoring and balancing
October 16 2013 - 2:00AM
Business Wire
New AS8506 cell monitoring IC eliminates need for complex
software and reduces hardware requirements in battery cell
management systems
ams AG (SIX: AMS), a leading provider of high performance analog
ICs and sensors, today introduced a vastly simplified and more
robust method of implementing cell monitoring and balancing in
lithium battery systems.
The innovative architecture developed by ams has been
implemented in a new, highly integrated chip, the AS8506, to
perform distributed cell monitoring and balancing operations for
stacked cell modules, including Safe Operating Area (SOA) checks
and passive or active cell balancing. It is ideal for all
lithium-based cell chemistries, such as those found in hybrid and
fully electric vehicles, as well as for EDLCs (also known as
supercaps or ultracaps).
In conventional systems, a complicated algorithm running
remotely on a high-end microcontroller decides which cells have to
be balanced. The new architecture supported by the AS8506 can
control balancing locally at the cells, enabling designers to
implement a more streamlined cell management system that eliminates
the powerful host controller, complex software and vulnerable
serial communication links normally used today.
The AS8506 can implement both passive and active cell balancing
autonomously, or it can support a microcontroller-based system via
its Serial Peripheral Interface. An advanced analog circuit in the
AS8506 compares up to seven cell voltages against an internal or
external reference with an accuracy of 1mV, to support
cell-balancing and cell-monitoring functions. Cell voltage
measurements can also be digitized with an accuracy of 5mV and
reported to a host controller.
Active and passive cell balancing use a similar circuit design,
but active balancing requires an additional flyback transformer.
The control circuit is integrated in the AS8506.
The device also features internally or external adjustable upper
and lower cell voltage limits. Temperature measurement is carried
out through two external NTC sensors.
The fully autonomous cell management architecture enabled by the
AS8506 is in stark contrast to the typical system implementations
found today using existing cell monitoring ICs. These are typically
limited to the sequential capturing of cell voltage measurements
that must be processed by a host controller. These prior
architectures have several drawbacks for designers of battery
management systems:
- The system must stream large amounts of
data over a serial link – a communications channel that is
vulnerable to interference in noisy environments.
- A powerful host controller running
complex software is required to turn individual cell voltage
measurements into useful functions such cell balancing decisions.
Writing this software is a difficult and time-consuming task. The
software requires exhaustive testing in order to qualify for use in
automotive ISO26262-compliant systems.
- Sequential cell measurements require
complex compensation algorithms in order to produce valid voltage
and current readings across a stack of cells. By contrast, the
simultaneous measurements captured by the AS8506 require no
compensation.
“The AS8506 marks a breakthrough in cell monitoring – not an
incremental improvement on previous cell monitoring ICs, but a
completely new approach”, said Manfred Brandl, Product Manager for
battery management in the automotive business unit at ams. “By
offering local cell and temperature monitoring, the AS8506 gives
system designers a simple and robust means to implement a battery
management system, with just a simple microcontroller required for
basic system functions.”
ams is demonstrating the AS8506 at Stand 74 at the VDI Congress
on ‘Elektronik im Kraftfahrzeug’ (Baden-Baden, Germany, 16-17
October 2013).
Price & Availability
The AS8506 cell monitoring IC is available for sampling now. It
is priced at $9.10 for 1,000 pieces.
ams also provides a non-automotive version called the AS8506C.
It is priced at $7.80 for 1,000 pieces.
Technical Support
A stand-alone Cell Balancer Evaluation Kit for the AS8506 is
available online from ams, priced at $80. An Active/Passive
Balancer Board is also available at the ams online webshop, priced
at $100. For further information on the AS8506 or to request
samples, please visit www.ams.com/cell-balancing-IC/AS8506
Download Press Picture or Block Diagram of this IC at
http://www.ams.com/eng/Press/Press-Releases/AS8506
For further information:Patricia Moosburger, Media
Relationsphone: +43 (0) 3136 500 31235press@ams.comwww.ams.com
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