TI Announces New bqJunior Battery Fuel Gauge
Texas Instruments Inc. (TI, Dallas, TX) announced what is claimed to be the first fully integrated, battery fuel gauge for single-cell, lithium-ion and lithium-polymer battery packs, the bqJunior, to calculate remaining battery capacity and system run time. The new integrated chip significantly reduces the development time and total cost of implementing a comprehensive battery fuel gauge system in single-cell, portable applications.
Unlike a standard battery monitor, the bq270x0, or bqJunior, battery fuel gauge incorporates an on-board processor to calculate the remaining battery capacity and system run time. The device measures the battery's charge and discharge currents to within one-percent error using an integrated, low-offset, voltage-to-frequency converter. A separate analog-to-digital converter on the integrated circuit is used to measure battery voltage and temperature. Using the measurement inputs, the bqJunior runs a proven algorithm to accurately calculate remaining battery capacity and system run time.
Samples of the bqJunior battery fuel gauge are currently available to select customers. Volume production is scheduled for the second quarter. The bqJunior device is packaged in an eight-pin TSSOP or QFN (3 mm x 4mm) package. The part is priced at $2.55 per unit in quantities of 1,000.
