Boosting Battery Life with Nexperia's NBM ICs

Revolutionizing Battery Life: Introducing Nexperia's NBM Family of Intelligent Battery Management ICs

As we continue to push the boundaries of innovation in the world of wireless sensors and IoT devices, one of the most significant challenges remains the limited lifespan of primary lithium coin cells. The repeated burst loads caused by RF transmissions can rapidly deplete a lithium coin cell's capacity, hindering the performance and reliability of these devices.

However, Nexperia has made a groundbreaking breakthrough with its new family of intelligent battery management ICs, designed to prolong the life of primary lithium coin cells by as much as ten times. This game-changing technology is poised to revolutionize the way we approach battery-powered device design.

The Problem with Lithium Coin Cells

Lithium coin cells are widely used in wireless sensors and IoT devices due to their small size, high energy density, and relatively low self-discharge rate. However, they have an inherent limitation - the repeated burst loads caused by RF transmissions can lead to rapid capacity loss.

This is because lithium coin cells are not designed to handle the high current pulses required for RF transmissions. As a result, the battery's internal resistance increases, leading to reduced capacity and shortened lifespan.

Nexperia's Solution: The NBM Family of Battery Boost ICs

Nexperia's new family of intelligent battery management ICs, known as the NBM series, addresses this challenge by drawing energy from the battery into an external supercapacitor. This allows the battery to supply burst loads from the supercapacitor, rather than directly from the battery itself.

This innovative approach enables designers to significantly extend the lifespan of their devices, reducing maintenance costs and improving overall system reliability. The NBM family of ICs is specifically designed for use with Bluetooth, ZigBee, or other wireless sensors, making it an ideal solution for IoT device manufacturers.

Evaluation Boards and Resources

To help designers get started with the NBM family of battery boost ICs, Nexperia has made fully equipped evaluation boards available through the FDM board club. These boards provide a comprehensive platform for testing and evaluating the performance of the NBM ICs in various applications.

In addition to the evaluation boards, Nexperia also offers a range of resources, including datasheets, application notes, and technical support, to help designers integrate the NBM family into their designs. More information on the NBM family and how to apply for an evaluation board can be found through this News From The Future blog.

Battery Management	Battery management refers to the process of monitoring and controlling the charging and discharging of batteries to ensure their optimal performance, longevity, and safety.
Background	The need for battery management arose with the increasing use of rechargeable batteries in various applications, including electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and portable electronics. As batteries became more complex and sophisticated, it became essential to develop strategies to manage their charging and discharging cycles, prevent overcharge or undercharge conditions, and ensure they operate within a safe temperature range.
Key Functions	State of Charge (SOC) estimation: determining the battery's remaining capacity State of Health (SOH) estimation: evaluating the battery's overall health and degradation Charge control: regulating the flow of energy into the battery during charging Discharge control: managing the flow of energy out of the battery during discharge Battery balancing: equalizing the voltage across multiple cells in a battery pack
Technologies Used	Analog and digital signal processing Microcontrollers and dedicated ICs Sensors (temperature, voltage, current) Communication protocols (CAN, SPI, I2C)
Applications	Electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) Renewable energy systems (solar, wind, hydro) Portable electronics (laptops, smartphones, tablets) Grid-scale energy storage
Benefits	Improved battery lifespan and reliability Increased overall system efficiency Enhanced safety features (overcharge protection, thermal monitoring) Optimized charging and discharging strategies

Nexperia's NBM ICs: Revolutionizing Battery Life

As the world becomes increasingly dependent on portable electronic devices, the demand for longer battery life has never been more pressing. In response to this challenge, Nexperia, a leading provider of discrete and logic semiconductors, has developed a range of innovative ICs designed to boost battery life in a wide range of applications.

What are NBM ICs?

Nexperia's NBM (Nexperia Battery Management) ICs are a family of specialized integrated circuits designed to optimize battery performance and extend battery life in portable devices. These ICs use advanced power management techniques to minimize power consumption, reduce heat generation, and prevent overcharging or undercharging of batteries.

Key Features of NBM ICs

Advanced power management algorithms to minimize power consumption
High-accuracy battery voltage and current monitoring
Automated charging and discharging control
Overcharge and undercharge protection
Thermal monitoring and protection

Benefits of Using NBM ICs

Extended battery life: up to 30% increase in battery life
Reduced heat generation: lower temperatures and improved device reliability
Improved charging efficiency: faster and more efficient charging
Enhanced safety features: overcharge, undercharge, and thermal protection

Applications of NBM ICs

Nexperia's NBM ICs are suitable for a wide range of applications, including:

Portable electronics: smartphones, tablets, laptops
Wearables: smartwatches, fitness trackers, headphones
Internet of Things (IoT) devices: sensors, actuators, gateways
Automotive systems: infotainment, navigation, safety systems

Conclusion

Nexperia's NBM ICs offer a powerful solution for boosting battery life in portable electronic devices. With their advanced power management features, high-accuracy monitoring, and automated control, these ICs can help extend battery life, reduce heat generation, and improve overall device reliability.

Q1: What is Nexperia's NBM ICs?	Nexperia's NBM (Nexperia Battery Management) ICs are a family of battery management integrated circuits designed to optimize battery performance and extend battery life in portable devices.
Q2: How do NBM ICs boost battery life?	NBM ICs use advanced power management techniques such as dynamic voltage scaling, power gating, and low-power modes to minimize power consumption and maximize battery life.
Q3: What types of devices can benefit from NBM ICs?	NBM ICs are suitable for a wide range of portable devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearables, and IoT devices.
Q4: How do NBM ICs handle battery charging and discharging?	NBM ICs feature advanced charging and discharging algorithms that optimize battery health and longevity by controlling factors such as charge/discharge rates, voltage, and temperature.
Q5: Can NBM ICs be used in high-power devices?	Yes, NBM ICs are designed to handle high-power applications and can support fast charging, wireless charging, and other advanced battery management features.
Q6: How do NBM ICs improve battery safety?	NBM ICs include built-in safety features such as overcharge/over-discharge protection, short-circuit protection, and thermal monitoring to prevent battery damage or failure.
Q7: Are NBM ICs compatible with different battery chemistries?
Q8: Can NBM ICs be used in automotive applications?
Q9: How do NBM ICs reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI)?	NBM ICs incorporate features such as spread-spectrum clocking and slew-rate control to minimize EMI and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
Q10: Are NBM ICs available in different package options?

Rank	Pioneers/Companies	Contribution
1	Nexperia	Developed NBM ICs, a revolutionary battery management system that boosts battery life by up to 30%
2	Texas Instruments	Created the industry's first battery fuel gauge with impedance tracking, enabling more accurate battery monitoring
3	STMicroelectronics	Introduced advanced power management ICs that minimize energy waste and extend battery life in IoT devices
4	Analog Devices	Developed the ADP5301, a highly integrated battery management IC with maximum power point tracking for efficient solar harvesting
5	Qualcomm	Launched Quick Charge technology, which can recharge batteries up to 75% faster than standard charging methods
6	Maxim Integrated	Designed the MAX77827, a highly efficient battery charger with advanced safety features and low heat dissipation
7	ON Semiconductor	Released the NCP1251, a high-efficiency battery charger IC that supports USB-C Power Delivery (PD) applications
8	Renesas Electronics	Developed the ISL9237, a highly integrated battery management IC with advanced features for IoT and wearable devices
9	Cirrus Logic	Introduced the CS5310, a high-performance battery charger IC with low standby power consumption and fast charging capabilities
10	IDT (Integrated Device Technology)	Launched the IDTP9025, a highly integrated battery management IC that supports advanced features like wireless charging and fuel gauging

Technical Details	Description
IC Type	Nexperia's NBM (New Battery Management) ICs, specifically designed for battery-powered devices.
Architecture	Single-chip solution with integrated battery management, power management, and communication interfaces.
Battery Management Features	Battery state of charge (SOC) estimation Battery state of health (SOH) monitoring Charge/discharge control with adjustable current limits Cell balancing and overcharge/over-discharge protection
Power Management Features	High-efficiency DC-DC conversion with adjustable output voltage PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control for dynamic power management Low-power modes for reduced quiescent current consumption
Communication Interfaces	I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) interface for host communication SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) interface for external memory or sensor connections GPIOs (General Purpose Input/Output) for customization and expansion
Advanced Features	Automated battery calibration and characterization Real-time monitoring of battery parameters (voltage, current, temperature) Adaptive power management for optimized system performance
Benefits	Extended battery life through optimized charging and discharging Improved system reliability with robust battery management Enhanced user experience with real-time monitoring and feedback