Li-ion Battery Management Platform with Pre-Validated Firmware

Renesas Electronics Corporation has introduced a comprehensive solution for battery management tailored for lithium-ion packs utilized in a variety of battery-powered consumer products such as e-bikes, vacuum cleaners, robotics, and drones. The R-BMS F (Ready Battery Management System with Fixed Firmware) comes equipped with pre-validated firmware, which will significantly streamline the learning process for developers, enabling the swift development of safe and energy-efficient battery management systems. Specifically designed for lithium-ion batteries in 2-4S and 3-10S series cell configurations, the R-BMS F comprises industry-leading fuel gauge ICs (FGICs) with an integrated microcontroller (MCU) and an analogue battery front end, pre-programmed firmware, software, development tools, and comprehensive documentation — all conveniently available in fully equipped evaluation kits ready for immediate shipment.

Firmware plays a pivotal role in battery management systems by overseeing crucial parameters such as the batteries’ state of charge (SoC), state of health (SoH), current, and temperature, while also actively equalizing the voltages of individual cells and detecting faults. The R-BMS F is equipped with built-in, rigorously tested firmware specifically engineered to seamlessly integrate with the FGIC’s onboard MCU. This firmware encompasses essential pre-programmed functions aimed at optimizing battery longevity and ensuring safe operation, including cell balancing, current control, as well as voltage and temperature monitoring. To enhance flexibility, developers can adjust numerous parameters to meet specific requirements and customize the solution for various cell chemistries using a user-friendly graphical interface (GUI) without the necessity of a fully integrated development environment (IDE).

The R-BMS F designed for 2 to 4S cell configurations (approximately 8-16 V) with the model number RTK0EF0163DK0002BU is tailored for applications in small vacuum cleaners, robotic vacuums, and consumer and medical devices, operating on the RAJ240055 Li-ion battery FGIC. On the other hand, the R-BMS F configured for 3 to 10S cells (around 12-40 V) with the model number RTK0EF0136DK0002BU is compatible with Renesas RAJ240100 and RAJ240090 Li-ion battery FGICs, targeting a wide range of applications including e-bikes, e-mobility, vacuum cleaners, robotics, drones, as well as industrial, consumer, and medical systems.