company blog about Recycle TI Battery Management Evaluation Board:Battery Charger,Battery Fuel Gauge

Recycle TI Battery Management Evaluation Board:Battery Charger,Battery Fuel Gauge

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I. Battery Charger Evaluation Board

Core Functionality and Design Philosophy

The TI Battery Charger Evaluation Board simulates real-world battery charging scenarios to validate charger ICs' charging efficiency, accuracy, protection capabilities, and compatibility, providing performance benchmarks for mass-production module design. Its design philosophy centers on “efficiency, safety, and flexibility,” balancing charging speed with battery longevity while supporting multiple charging protocols and modes to accommodate diverse application requirements.

Essentially, the charger evaluation board centers on TI charger ICs (such as the BQ series), paired with peripheral power circuits, sampling circuits, protection circuits, and interface circuits to simulate the charging architecture found in actual products. It can be directly connected to a battery for charging tests or used to collect data such as voltage, current, and temperature during the charging process via test points, enabling analysis of the charger IC's operating characteristics.

Representative Models and Core Features

TI charger evaluation boards encompass two main types: linear chargers and switch-mode chargers, catering to different power levels and application scenarios. Below are two of the most representative models and their feature breakdowns, covering mainstream applications such as consumer electronics and industrial equipment:

BQ25186EVM: Low-Power Linear Charger Evaluation Board

The BQ25186EVM is an evaluation module specifically designed for the BQ25186 charger IC. This IC is an I²C-controlled 1A linear battery charger housed in a compact QFN package with a thermal pad. It integrates the most commonly required functions for industrial and personal electronics applications, making it an ideal choice for low-power charging solutions in consumer electronics.

Core features include: Support for 1A linear charging with configurable voltage accuracy to 0.5%, and termination current as low as 0.5mA to ensure charging precision; Integrated programmable thermal charging curve with configurable hot, warm, cool, and cold temperature thresholds for safe charging across varying environments; Power path management capability enables simultaneous system powering and battery charging, enhancing system power stability; Supports 15nA shutdown mode to maximize battery shelf life during idle periods, paired with one-touch wake-up and reset input functions, featuring adjustable timers; Utilizes I²C communication control for convenient parameter configuration and status monitoring; Incorporates dedicated input Power Good (PG) and Charge Enable (CE) pins to simplify peripheral circuit design.

Primary applications include TWS earbuds and charging cases, smart glasses (AR/VR), smart watches, and other wearables, as well as low-power industrial scenarios like retail automation and building automation. The evaluation board comes with a comprehensive user guide containing PCB layout, schematics, bill of materials (BOM), and test procedures for quick prototyping.

BQ25798EVM: High-Power Switching Mode Buck/Boost Charger Evaluation Board

The BQ25798EVM evaluates the BQ25798 charger IC, an integrated switch-mode buck/boost battery charge manager in a HOTROD (QFN) package. It supports 1-4 series-connected Li-ion and Li-polymer cells, making it an optimal solution for medium-to-high power applications, particularly those requiring bidirectional power delivery.

Key features include: Supports 5A high-efficiency switch-mode buck/boost charging with an input voltage range of 3.6V to 24V. Switching frequency is programmable between 750kHz and 1500kHz, balancing charging efficiency and board size. Features maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for high-impedance sources like solar panels, enhancing energy utilization. Supports an I²C serial interface for flexible configuration of charging parameters and system settings, enabling seamless switching between charging and USB OTG modes; When paired with the EV2400 or USB2ANY interface and integrated ADC, it enables real-time monitoring of charger status, fault information, and voltage/current data; On-board USB input adapter interface allows setting default input current limits via D+/D- communication. Includes test points, sense resistors, and jumpers for measuring high-precision voltage and current regulation performance. Built-in bidirectional blocking NFET supports jumper-selectable dual input source selector for enhanced application flexibility.

Suitable for mid-to-high power devices including laptops, tablets, portable medical equipment, industrial handheld terminals, and solar-powered devices. The evaluation board does not include the required EV2400 or USB2ANY for operation; these must be configured separately. Detailed user guides and technical documentation are provided to support performance verification in complex scenarios.

Key Test Metrics and Evaluation Process

When testing with TI charger evaluation boards, focus on the following critical metrics to ensure the charger IC meets application requirements: Charging efficiency (conversion efficiency under varying loads and input voltages), charging accuracy (tolerance ranges for charging voltage and termination current), thermal performance (temperature changes in the IC and evaluation board during charging to validate thermal design), protection functions (response speed and effectiveness of overvoltage, overcurrent, overtemperature, and short-circuit protection), power path management performance (stability during simultaneous power delivery and charging), and low-power characteristics (current consumption in shutdown and standby modes). .

The standard evaluation process consists of three steps: First, set up the test environment by connecting the evaluation board to the power supply, battery, test instruments (multimeter, oscilloscope), and computer. Install the BQ Studio software and establish communication with the evaluation board. Second, configure parameters via the software to set charging mode, charging voltage, charging current, temperature thresholds, etc., tailored to the test battery specifications. Finally, initiate the charging test, monitor all data in real time during charging, record the charging curve, efficiency data, and protection function trigger events, complete the performance evaluation, and optimize parameters.

II. Battery State-of-Charge (SOC) Monitor Evaluation Board

Core Functionality and Design Philosophy

The core function of the battery SOC monitor evaluation board is to validate the accuracy of the SOC monitor IC in detecting parameters such as battery remaining charge (SOC), remaining capacity, State of Health (SOH), and charge/discharge cycle count. This provides a basis for designing battery state-of-charge monitoring modules. Its design philosophy centers on “precision, reliability, and compatibility.” Utilizing TI's patented energy metering algorithms, it mitigates the impact of factors like temperature, charge/discharge rates, and battery aging on measurement accuracy, ensuring users can accurately monitor battery status.

Similar to charger evaluation boards, the battery meter evaluation board centers on TI's battery meter IC, paired with sampling resistors, communication interfaces, display modules (in some models), and auxiliary circuits. It can directly interface with batteries to collect real-time voltage, current, and temperature data. Through algorithmic calculations, it derives key parameters like SOC and SOH, outputting results via software or hardware interfaces for convenient testing and verification. TI's Battery Management Studio (BQ Studio) software enables comprehensive control over the battery monitor IC, including register access, data readout, parameter configuration, and cyclic data logging.

Typical Models and Core Features

TI's battery meter evaluation boards cover single-cell and multi-cell configurations, supporting various battery types including lithium-ion, lithium polymer, lithium iron phosphate, and nickel-metal hydride. Core models are categorized into basic (emphasizing precise measurement) and integrated (incorporating protection functions). Below are analyses of two typical models:

BQ28Z620EVM-071: Multi-Cell Battery Meter Evaluation Board with Integrated Protection

The BQ28Z620EVM-071 is a complete evaluation system for battery management systems (BMS) comprising the BQ28Z620 and BQ294502. The BQ28Z620 is a battery state-of-charge monitor with integrated protection, suitable for 1-2 cell series packs. It supports 1.2V I/O and is an optimal solution for multi-cell battery measurement in small devices.

Core features include: High-precision energy metering with Impedance Track™ technology for accurate SOC and SOH measurement; 52% reduction in coulomb counter offset to a typical value of just 4.8µV, enhancing metering accuracy; Ultra-low current consumption down to 300µA (typical), offering superior power efficiency compared to similar multi-cell energy meters; Ultra-low current sense resistor values from 0.5mΩ to 3mΩ minimize power dissipation; Supports input voltages as low as 2.2V, accommodating future cell chemistries and ultra-low system voltage requirements; Comprehensive integrated protection safeguards against overcharge, over-discharge, short-circuit, and overcurrent conditions in single-cell or dual-cell series battery packs; Through the EV2400 interface board and BQ Studio software, users can read the BQ28Z620 data registers, program the chipset for different battery pack configurations, log cycle data for further evaluation, and assess the solution's overall functionality under various charge/discharge conditions via the I²C communication protocol.

Suitable applications include products utilizing 1-2 series-connected cells, such as small portable devices, wearables, and compact industrial sensors. Priced at $55, the evaluation board includes technical documentation like user guides and declarations of conformity to facilitate rapid testing.

BQ34Z100EVM: Wide-Range Multi-Chemistry Battery Monitor Evaluation Module

The BQ34Z100EVM is an evaluation module specifically designed for the BQ34Z100 wide-range battery monitor. When combined with the EV2300 USB adapter and Windows-based PC software, it forms a complete evaluation system supporting batteries across multiple chemistries, including lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), and nickel-cadmium (NiCd), offering broad compatibility.

Core features include: Supports energy metering for single-cell or multi-cell series battery packs, compatible with various battery types including Li-ion, Li-polymer, LiFePO4, NiMH, and NiCd. For NiMH and NiCd packs, the minimum number of series cells must ensure the pack voltage remains above 3.3V. Wide-range measurement capability accommodates batteries of varying capacities and discharge rates with high accuracy, minimally affected by temperature and aging factors; Through the EV2300 interface adapter and accompanying software, it enables operations such as data register reading, chip programming, cyclic data logging, and charge/discharge performance evaluation; Complete onboard peripheral components allow direct battery testing without additional devices, simplifying the testing process; Supports battery capacity prediction, optimizing SOC calculation accuracy based on historical charge/discharge data to enhance user experience.

Suitable for portable electronics, power tools, small energy storage devices, and other products utilizing diverse battery chemistries. The accompanying user guide details kit contents, performance specifications, quick-start procedures, and testing methods to facilitate rapid adoption by R&D personnel.

Key Test Metrics and Evaluation Process

The core evaluation metrics for the battery meter assessment board center on “measurement accuracy,” primarily including: SOC measurement accuracy (error range at full, half, and low charge states; ideal error ≤2%), SOH detection accuracy (accurate assessment of battery degradation), Charge/discharge cycle stability (measurement accuracy variation after repeated cycles), Temperature adaptability (measurement accuracy across varying temperatures), and Current sampling accuracy (a core factor affecting SOC calculation). Additionally, the communication stability, low-power characteristics, and effectiveness of protection functions (for integrated types) of the battery meter IC must be evaluated.

The standard evaluation process mirrors that for charger evaluation boards: First, establish the test environment by connecting the evaluation board, battery, test instruments, and computer; install BQ Studio software and establish communication. Next, perform battery calibration by completing charge/discharge cycles to calibrate parameters such as battery capacity and internal resistance, ensuring measurement accuracy. Then, perform charge/discharge testing to simulate real-world usage scenarios (varying discharge rates, temperatures), recording parameters like SOC and SOH in real time while comparing actual battery capacity to measured capacity to identify discrepancies. Finally, analyze test data to optimize gauge parameters, ensuring they meet application requirements. TI also provides a Gauging Parameter Calculator to help designers obtain CEDV coefficients matched to specific battery chemistries, enhancing measurement accuracy.

III. Synergistic Operation and Application Value of Charger and Battery Gauge Evaluation Boards

Synergy Principle

In practical battery management systems, the battery charger and gauge are core components that work in tandem. TI evaluation boards support joint testing of both: the charger adjusts charging parameters based on battery state (SOC, temperature) to achieve efficient and safe charging; The battery monitor continuously tracks voltage, current, and temperature data, calculates SOC and SOH, and transmits this information to the charger. The charger then switches charging modes (constant current/constant voltage) and adjusts current/voltage levels based on these readings. When SOC reaches 100% or abnormal conditions are detected, the charger promptly halts charging to prevent battery damage.

Through the TI evaluation board's integrated testing, the communication stability, parameter compatibility, and collaborative efficiency between the two components can be verified. For example: When the battery monitor detects excessive battery temperature, can it promptly relay this information to the charger, triggering its over-temperature protection and halting charging? When SOC reaches a set threshold, can the charger accurately switch charging modes or stop charging to ensure charging safety and battery longevity? This interlock testing proactively identifies compatibility issues in designs, reducing mass production risks.

Core Application Value

The core value of TI's battery charger and battery monitor evaluation board lies in “accelerating R&D, reducing risks, and optimizing performance,” manifested in three key aspects:

First, shortening the R&D cycle. The evaluation board provides a ready-to-use hardware platform and supporting software, eliminating the need for developers to build test circuits from scratch. This enables rapid verification of charger and battery meter IC performance, quick screening of suitable components, and reduction of iterative hardware design, prototyping, and testing cycles. It shortens the BMS development cycle by 30%-50%.

Second, it reduces development risks. The evaluation board incorporates comprehensive protection circuits and calibration mechanisms to precisely identify device performance flaws and design vulnerabilities—such as insufficient charger efficiency or excessive meter measurement errors—enabling early problem detection and resolution to prevent mass production failures. Additionally, TI's reference designs and technical documentation help developers avoid common design pitfalls, enhancing product reliability.

Third, it optimizes product performance. Precise testing via the evaluation board allows optimization of charging parameters and energy measurement algorithms, enhancing charging efficiency, extending battery life, and improving SOC measurement accuracy. This endows the final product with stronger market competitiveness. For instance, optimizing the charger's thermal management parameters prevents device overheating during charging, while calibrating the energy calculation algorithm eliminates measurement errors at low battery levels, thereby enhancing user experience.