Li-ion Battery Monitoring LSI   ML5236

LAPIS Semiconductor, a ROHM Group Company, has recently announced the development of the first lithium-ion battery monitoring LSI compatible with high-voltage NMOSFET^*1 control that supports up to 14 cells in series, making it ideal for li-ion battery monitoring in electric bicycles and power storage systems.

The ML5236 monitors the voltage, current, temperature, and charger/load connection in lithium-ion battery monitoring systems and enables charge/discharge control using an NMOSFET on the high-voltage side.
In addition, secondary protection functions^*2 such as battery monitoring and protection functions that are typically performed using multiple LSIs are integrated into a single package, improving system reliability, simplifying configuration, and contributing to greater compactness.

A comprehensive support system is provided, including an evaluation board and software that facilitates evaluation, along with manuals and software than can be accessed and downloaded online (registration required).

High-density lithium-ion batteries are expected to see wide adoption in products such as electric bicycles and power storage devices. Implementing charge/discharge control at the high-voltage side is recommended to improve reliability during battery monitoring by preventing communication disruptions and ground wiring disconnections. Transitioning to higher voltage systems also provides greater capacity and contributes to a common platform.

In response, LAPIS Semiconductor has successfully developed a battery monitoring LSI ideal for cutting-edge high-voltage lithium-ion battery monitoring systems by utilizing market-proven mixed signal circuitry and proprietary high-voltage processes, and going forward will continue to meet the demand for high-voltage serial multi-cell battery monitoring LSIs in the industrial equipment and other markets.

Target Applications in the Secondary Lithium-Ion Battery Market

Integrating All Functions Required for Battery Monitoring Improves Reliability,
Simplifies Design, and Contributes to Increased Miniaturization

• Compatible with high-voltage-side NMOSFET charge/discharge control systems
  • High reliability can be achieved by utilizing an NMOSFET^*1 at the high-voltage side for charge/discharge control. NMOSFETs also provide greater compatibility – in contrast to the more commonly used (and more expensive) PMOSFETs^*1.
• Supports up to 14 cells in series
  • Support for lithium-ion battery monitoring sets of up to 14 cells in series is enabled. In addition, a class-leading breakdown voltage of 80V makes it possible to design higher voltage systems and achieve a common platform.
  
  
• All monitoring functions required for lithium-ion batteries on a single chip
  • The ML5236 includes all monitoring functions (voltage, current, temperature, charger/load connection) necessary for lithium-ion battery monitoring operation.
    Measured values are digitized by the built-in A/D converter and output via SPI, enabling configuration of
    simple battery monitoring circuits that are less susceptible to noise.
• Secondary protection functions built in (short current and overcharge protection)
  • In addition to li-ion battery monitoring, short-circuit and overcharge protection functions are included- independent of the microcontroller-improving system reliability.