Li-ion battery monitor chipset targets automotive applications
Toshiba's new Li-ion battery monitor chipset has been designed to detect the remaining battery level and abnormal battery status in hybrid and standard electric vehicles.
The chipset, which can also equalise battery levels, comprises the TB9141FG monitoring ic and the TMPM358FDTFG microcontroller. Toshiba says it will start sample shipments in February 2013, and mass production in April 2014.
The TB9141FG is designed to monitor up to 16 cells, which can lead to component count reduction in a battery monitoring system. Furthermore, it is able to communicate in a noisy environment by differential signals using daisy chain communication with the neighbouring TB9141FGs.
The TMPM358FDTFG is a 32bit risc microcontroller built around an ARM Cortex-M3 core and compliant with functional safety levels (IEC61508/ISO26262).
Toshiba is to prepare a software library to be compliant with the IEC61508 and ISO26262 functional safety standards and is also planning reference models. These tools, it says, will simplify the implementation of battery monitoring systems.
