Battery Management IC ensures battery safety in electronics.
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Press Release Summary:
Model bq26150 identifies potentially unsafe batteries not approved by consumer electronics manufacturers for use in their devices. Unit resides in battery pack and communicates with host system's microcontroller or applications processor. Host processor interrogates battery pack upon insertion over single-wire communications line. IC calculates data obtained from secret decryption key and if battery info is approved, system allows operation.
Original Press Release:
Texas Instruments Battery Management IC Increases Battery Safety in Cell Phones and Other Portable Electronics
Advanced Authentication Technology Identifies and Validates Batteries
DALLAS (January 12, 2005) - Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced an intelligent battery management integrated circuit (IC) that easily identifies potentially unsafe batteries not approved by consumer electronics manufacturers for use in their devices. The bq26150 device authenticates battery packs used in cell phones, PDAs, digital still cameras, notebooks or other portable applications. See: www.ti.com/sc05002.
TI's bq26150 resides in the battery pack and communicates with the host system's micro-controller or applications processor. The host processor, such as TI's OMAP2420 applications processor, interrogates the battery pack upon pack insertion with a request for data over a single-wire communications line. The secure battery management IC calculates data obtained from a secret decryption key known only by the end-equipment system manufacturer. The data is uniquely programmed in the bq26150 circuit using secure, non-volatile memory. If the battery information checks out, the system can allow normal system operation with the battery pack. A manufacturer can program the system to take action to protect the consumer if the battery pack response is not correct, or if the battery pack is not approved or determined to be defective. For instance, a manufacturer may decide to render the system inoperable, or only allow discharging of the battery, but not charging.
Secure Validation Technology
The first battery management IC in a series of battery pack security products from TI, the bq26150 obtains important security data information based on a cycle redundancy check (or CRC) architecture, which combines the unique identification with a random challenge to produce a transmitted result. The next battery security IC from TI will be based on a SHA-1/HMAC encryption architecture, originally developed by the U.S. National Security Administration.
The new SHA-1-based circuit, expected to be in production in the first half of 2005, will provide an additional level of security. Other security ICs planned for 2005 combine battery validation with other functions, such as battery fuel gauging and primary safety control. Providing increased levels of integration, the new battery management devices are designed to meet demands of future portable systems with regard to end-user safety, design features and cost.
Leading Portfolio of Battery and Power Management IC Technology
Leveraging its high-performance analog system expertise and manufacturing capabilities, TI is the leading provider of battery management and power conversion semiconductor technology to portable design manufacturers and battery pack manufacturers. A majority of today's notebook computers contain TI's battery management technology; and to date, TI has shipped tens of millions of advanced battery gauge ICs, charge management and protection circuits to wireless handset, PDA, portable medical and industrial design manufacturers.
Available Today
The bq26150 chipset is sampling today from TI and its authorized distributors. Volume production is scheduled for second quarter 2005. Suggested resale pricing in 1,000 piece quantities is $1.15 each. Evaluation modules, complete reference designs, application notes and technical documentation are available through power.ti.com.
About Texas Instruments Incorporated
Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements. In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries.
Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at www.ti.com.
