The newest single-cell "pack-side" integrated circuits in this portfolio are the MAX17301 and MAX17311, which offer the most adjustable battery safety configurations in the industry and allow fine-tuning of voltage and current thresholds for various temperature zones. These ICs also offer the first secondary protection scheme in case of primary protection failure. This secondary protection scheme permanently disables the battery by overriding a secondary protector or blowing a fuse under severe fault conditions.
All ICs in the family are equipped with Maxim's patented ModelGauge m5 EZ algorithm, which delivers the highest state-of-charge (SOC) accuracy, averaging 40 percent greater accuracy than competing offerings and eliminating the need for battery characterization. These fuel gauges also offer the lowest quiescent current (IQ) in the industry, up to 80 percent lower than the closest competitor, and feature SHA-256 authentication to protect systems from counterfeit batteries.
Conventional battery protectors monitor voltage and current, and in some cases include temperature monitoring. These options make the system vulnerable to unexpected failures because the battery's state of charge (SOC) is not considered when triggering a low-voltage cutoff decision. The market lacks a solution that allows for more in-depth configuration of voltage or current thresholds based on multiple temperature environments. With a growing market for battery-powered applications, there is a need for a simple and compact solution that protects against unsafe charging conditions that can lead to extensive battery damage, including overvoltage, short circuits, over/under temperature, and more. Furthermore, system and battery designers continue to push the limits of capacity-constrained batteries to provide the longest possible runtime without damaging the cells. Currently, there are very few highly configurable solutions that are simple to implement. Designers are also looking for a way to protect the system by ensuring that only genuine batteries are used, which can eliminate unexpected shutdowns and failures caused by potentially unsafe and counterfeit batteries.
The MAX17301 and MAX17311 fuel gauges integrate industry-leading protection with the most configurable settings for battery safety. These are the only single-cell fuel gauges on the market to offer two-level Li-ion protection, providing an additional layer of safety in case of primary protection failure. These compact integrated circuits are part of Maxim's new portfolio of fuel gauges that offer built-in protection capabilities, helping system manufacturers meet new product safety standards such as IEC 62368-1/UL 62368-1. All integrated circuits in the family offer unique low-state-based protection as an alternative to simple low-voltage thresholds, preventing nuisance tripping in the event of short-duration voltage dips due to pulse loads on the battery. As with the rest of the portfolio, these devices also provide the highest SOC accuracy without requiring battery characterization, eliminating the several weeks of time previously needed to ship a battery to a lab for characterization and analysis. Furthermore, the portfolio offers the lowest SOC on the market, extending battery life for compact electronics.
Key Advantages
- Advanced Battery Protection: Ensures safe charging and discharging across a wide range of applications with 2-level Li-ion protector control for abnormal voltage, current, and temperature conditions. Offers protection against counterfeiting and cloning with SHA-256 authentication and provides a unique, dynamic key for each battery.
- Maximum Accuracy: Delivers best-in-class SOC accuracy without battery characterization. Cycle + Age Forecast provides an easy-to-understand prediction of remaining battery life for battery replacement planning or fast charging control. Battery Life Log stores the history of operating conditions experienced by the pack throughout its lifespan.
IQ/ 18 µA low power with protection FET enabled and 7 µA with protection FET disabled.
