Freescale Expands Portfolio of Integrated Battery Cell Controllers

The new MC33772 is a 3- to 6-cell lithium-ion battery cell controller for use in Auto and Industrial Applications

Freescale Semiconductor has introduced the MC33772 3- to 6-cell lithium-ion battery cell controller, expanding its portfolio of highly integrated and connected solutions for reducing BOM cost, increasing operating robustness and meeting stringent functional safety requirements for automotive and industrial battery systems powering the solid-state Internet of Tomorrow.

Together with its previously announced MC33771 14-cell battery cell controller, the MC33772 product expands Freescale’s hardware- and software-compatible battery cell controller portfolio to encompass a full range of single chip 3- to 14-cell solutions. Supporting a broad array of battery chemistries, including lithium iron phosphate, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide, lithium titanate, and lithium polymer, Freescale's comprehensive cell controller portfolio helps customers easily scale solutions to meet different battery management needs without requiring new R&D investments. In addition, Freescale battery cell controllers feature advanced diagnostics and functional verification supporting ISO 26262 ASIL-C requirements within a single chip.

Lead-acid automotive batteries are increasingly being replaced by Li-ion chemistries to reduce weight, increase reliability and boost energy efficiency for engine start-stop systems and energy recuperation technologies. Recent advances in Li-ion battery chemistry for cold temperature operation and cold cranking power now enable Li-ion batteries to displace lead-acid even as the starter battery. As a result, the inherent challenges of overcharge, overheating and internal short circuit are increasingly managed by electronics. To maintain safe operating conditions and ensure system-wide control of the battery, next-generation battery cell controllers like Freescale’s must provide accurate, reliable battery diagnostics and high speed communication of status.

With its comprehensive feature-set, Freescale’s new MC33772 battery cell controller supports this paradigm shift, providing a single chip solution optimized for all critical performance and safety duties, and featuring robust functional verification supporting ISO 26262 ASIL-C requirements, which help protect automotive and industrial battery packs against critical fault conditions. Higher level ASIL-D system implementations can also be realized using multiple Freescale battery cell controllers for redundancy.

“Drivers face a host of issues and concerns about their lead-acid batteries, many of which are caused by outside elements like extreme temperatures that are hard to control, causing about 100 million batteries to be replaced every year in the U.S. alone,” said James Bates, senior vice president and general manager for Freescale’s Analog & Sensors Group. “With the expansion of our broad portfolio of battery cell controllers, Freescale is helping reduce those concerns, making it easier for our customers to offer an effective Li-ion alternative to lead-acid, while meeting stringent performance and functional safety requirements across a wide variety of battery sizes and types.”

In addition to 14V Li-ion battery packs, the MC33772 product’s optimized feature set is well suited for reducing system electronics BOM cost in a broad range of automotive and industrial battery management applications, including 48V battery systems, high voltage hybrid and electric cars, E-bikes and energy storage systems. The MC33772 delivers an optimal balance of measurement accuracy, scalability and high speed isolated communications. It supports rapid, 2Mbps communication of battery health and conditions for a variety of battery management system topologies, including centralized, distributed CAN and distributed daisy chain systems.

Features of the MC33772 include:

The MC33772 is engineered to help customers easily meet stringent ISO 26262 ASIL-C requirements through integrated functional verification and advanced diagnostic features in single-chip. An ASIL-D system level implementation is also possible with Freescale battery cell controllers, allowing customers to meet multiple functional safety concepts and address safety system level requirements. As a Freescale SafeAssure functional safety solution, this portfolio meets rigorous standards for ESD, EMC, low current consumption and AEC-Q100 automotive qualified design.

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[Reprinted with kind permission from Freescale - Release Date 16th September, 2015]