Because today’s battery management systems (BMS) are wired, the common source of cable failures – wire harnesses and connectors – becomes a warranty and functional safety issue. With the launch of a wireless BMS that features the first independently assessed functional safety concept, Texas Instruments hopes to revolutionize electric vehicle (EV) BMS. By removing the […]
Understanding stop/start automobile-engine design, Part 3: The battery situation
The stop/start approach has significant implications for the car’s battery and battery management system (BMS). Q: How does the battery charge/discharge cycle function in a non-stop/start vehicle? A: In a car without a stop/start system, starting the engine is a one-time event for the duration of the trip. While the engine is running, it also […]
EnergyLink3 and C4V develop cobalt-free lithium battery for use on agricultural solar projects
Energylink3 has developed a less toxic lithium battery storage system for use in agriculture and environmentally sensitive areas to store energy from farm-based and rural solar arrays. EnergyLink3 batteries will be manufactured in New York at a former IBM campus by C4V and iM3, which has been supported by a $13.25 million investment by Governor…
Power consumption testing for wireless IoT sensor nodes and wearables
Part one of this FAQ series focused on the various types of components available for designing power systems for wireless Internet of Things (IoT) sensor nodes, wearables, and similar applications. This FAQ focuses on measuring and validating the performance of those power systems. There are several instruments and approaches available for measuring and testing the […]
50-W Qi wireless-charging IC speeds consumer electronics recharging
STMicroelectronics has introduced the world’s fastest Qi wireless charging IC, STWLC88. Delivering as much as 50W of power, the new device enables consumers to charge smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other personal electronic devices without cables as safely and nearly as quickly and efficiently as they could by plugging them in. ST’s state-of-the-art 50W wireless-power IC charges smartphones two […]
Authentication device allows for secured wireless charging
Infineon Technologies AG extends its OPTIGA Trust product family with a dedicated solution for secured inductive charging. The new OPTIGA Trust Charge is the industry’s first embedded security solution that is usable for the Qi 1.3 wireless charging standard. It addresses chargers for small personal electronic devices like smartphones, earbuds, tablets, wearables, or health tech […]
Grade 0 automotive gate drivers optimized for 48-V battery systems
A series of 80-V motor drivers for advanced 48-V automotive systems address the need for flexible and reliable solutions in electric vehicles. Allegro’s new suite of fully integrated gate drivers offer optimized architecture and performance directly impacting vehicle weight, battery/fuel efficiency, and driver safety. The new gate drivers are designed to suit any load configuration […]
MCUs feature low-power animated display driver for battery-powered devices
System developers of battery-powered and other power-conscious designs with and without LCD displays can now easily add an array of innovative features using a new line of PIC eXtreme Low Power (XLP) microcontrollers (MCUs) from Microchip Technology Inc. Packed with 14 types of Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) that operate outside the Central Processing Unit (CPU) for […]
Design challenges when using energy harvesting – Virtual Roundtable (part 1 of 2)
The first part of EEWorld’s two-part “virtual roundtable” discussion on energy harvesting considers technical challenges and design tradeoffs for engineers using energy harvesting power sources. Joining us for this virtual roundtable are: Dr. André Mansano (AM), CTO at Nowi; Graeme Clark (GC), Marketing Manager, Energy Harvesting Business Unit, at Renesas Electronics, Ken Imai (KI) Sr. […]
Infineon offers new sensing and balancing IC for battery management systems
Infineon Technologies AG is expanding its product offering for battery management systems with a new sensing and balancing IC: the TLE9012AQU. The device is especially designed for batteries in hybrid and electric cars, but it is also suitable for other applications. The TLE9012AQU measures the voltage in up to 12 battery cells with an accuracy of ±…