Part monitors 12 cell Li ion battery stacks
In a move to satisfy growing need for precision monitoring of lithium ion battery stacks, Linear Technology has launched the LTC6802. Capable of measuring voltages in up to 12 cells, the device has been developed specifically for automotive and industrial applications.
Erik Soule, general manager of Linear’s signal conditioning product range, said this represented a new direction for the company, adding ‘there’s nothing like this on the market’. “The part has evolved from our involvement with hybrid vehicle manufacturers in Japan,” he explained.
Each cell in the battery stack is monitored for over and undervoltage and a mosfet is available to discharge overcharged cells. The device communicates using a 1MHz serial interface and features temperature sensor inputs, general purpose I/O and a precision voltage reference.
