- The L9963 can monitor up to 14 stacked battery cells and measure voltages with accuracy better than 2mV in the 1.7V–4.7V range
- The company said that the L9963 can also monitor up to seven external temperature sensors
STMicroelectronics has revealed new battery-management technology that will increase the reliability, safety, driving range, and cost-effectiveness of electric vehicles (EVs). The company said that the L9963 controller is the latest generation from ST’s battery management system (BMS) program which has already created advanced semiconductors for joint projects with organisations developing EV batteries.
The L9963 can monitor up to 14 stacked battery cells and measure voltages with accuracy better than 2mV in the 1.7V–4.7V range to maintain superior cell conditions as per the company. It added that the simultaneous digitisation of all sensed values is considered to be a first for this type of battery-management product and it eliminates cell-synchronisation delays
Alberto Poma, ADG vice president, smart power solutions MACRO-division general manager, STMicroelectronics said, “We are extending our expertise in electronic technologies in every way possible to help realize cleaner mobility. Building on over 10 years of work with key partners in EV battery-management technology, our new battery-management chip further improves every aspect of energy management in EVs, which directly enhances important end-user experiences to increase the market appeal and consumer confidence.”
L9963 is in production
A typical BMS application uses multiple L9963 devices to monitor groups of cells in the battery stack which is managed by a host microcontroller (MCU) like ST’s SPC5 safety-critical automotive-qualified MCUs. The company said that the L9963 is in production at this stage and ready for new designs.
The company said that the L9963 can also monitor up to seven external temperature sensors. It meets ASIL-D requirements in compliance with the ISO 26262 standard and integrates a fully redundant cell-measurement path improves safety and provides support for a ‘limp home’ mode as per the company. It also comes with fault-detection and notification functions.
Hot-plugging without the external Zener diodes
The company added, “Together with a serial peripheral interface (SPI), the L9963 features a 2.66Mbps vertical communication interface for high-speed communication between multiple L9963 ICs monitoring the entire battery stack. This permits eight devices to convert and read 96 cells in less than 4ms, and can work with any combination of transformer-based or capacitive isolation.”
The L9963 is equipped with hot-plugging without the external Zener diodes. It will allow designers to eliminate these components and reduce costs says the company.
