Texas Instruments Unveils Smart Chip to Predict Battery Failures Before They Occur

Texas Instruments has introduced a new technology aimed at revolutionizing the safety of electric vehicles and energy storage systems by detecting battery issues and forecasting potential failures before they happen. This advancement promises to usher in a new generation of safer and more efficient energy systems.

The semiconductor company announced the launch of its latest battery monitoring device, the BQ79826Z-Q1, which it describes as the most advanced in the industry. This device can monitor a larger number of battery cells and incorporates sophisticated technology to analyze the internal state of batteries in real time.

How the Battery Monitoring Technology Works

The new technology utilizes a method known as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), a tool that tracks the chemical and electrical changes occurring inside battery cells during operation, according to interesting engineering.

Texas Instruments compares this technology to an electrocardiogram, but instead of monitoring heartbeats, it continuously assesses the "health status" of the battery. It detects early signs of problems before they develop into serious malfunctions.

Early Warning System to Enhance Battery Safety

This capability allows battery management systems to identify potential risks such as overheating or internal cell degradation before reaching the critical stage of thermal runaway, which is a leading cause of battery fires.

Texas Instruments states that this new system provides electric vehicles and energy storage facilities with unprecedented predictive power regarding battery faults, enabling immediate preventive measures to protect battery safety and extend operational life.

Wingya Liu, Vice President and General Manager of Battery Management Systems at Texas Instruments, emphasized the rapid expansion of electric vehicles and energy storage systems, which necessitates smarter battery monitoring solutions. He added that the new technology offers an "inside view" of battery conditions, allowing software to make instant decisions based on precise data about cell safety and performance.

Technical and Economic Advantages of the New Chip

Beyond safety improvements, the new chip offers significant economic and engineering benefits. It can monitor up to 26 battery cells through a single device, surpassing many current market solutions.

This capability enables the monitoring of more cells with fewer electronic chips, reducing the complexity of battery pack designs and lowering manufacturing costs and the space required for components.

The chip also supports monitoring of up to 44% more channels compared to previous generations, providing designers with greater flexibility to develop more efficient battery systems.

Additionally, the technology delivers faster data analysis, with EIS measurements now five times quicker than earlier solutions. It achieves high voltage measurement accuracy, with deviations under 2 millivolts across a wide temperature range, which enhances the precision of charge level estimation and battery health monitoring.