Texas Instruments has introduced the BQ41Z90 and BQ41Z50 battery fuel gauges, featuring the Dynamic Z-Track algorithm for precise battery monitoring in devices such as laptops, e-bikes, and portable medical equipment. The technology achieves state-of-charge and state-of-health accuracy within 1% error, enabling up to 30% longer battery run time compared to traditional gauging methods.The BQ41Z90 and BQ41Z50 gauges address the need for accurate, real-time battery monitoring in power-intensive electronics.
The Dynamic Z-Track algorithm adapts to dynamic load conditions, such as those in AI applications, providing reliable battery capacity predictions under unpredictable usage. This allows engineers to select appropriately sized batteries, reducing the need for oversized designs.Yevgen Barsukov, Ph.D., TI Fellow and head of BMS algorithm development, stated, “Traditional battery monitoring methods often struggle with accuracy under erratic use conditions, leading to unreliable predictions. However, our new Dynamic Z-Track technology is a predictive battery model that can self-update across dynamic load conditions, like those created by AI applications, ensuring the most accurate run-time prediction”.
The BQ41Z90 is a single-chip solution for 3-to-16 lithium-ion battery cells in series, integrating fuel gauge, monitor, and protector functions, and reducing board space by up to 25% compared to discrete solutions. The BQ41Z50 supports 2-to-4 cells in series. These features help engineers manage the complexity of modern battery-powered devices while optimizing PCB space.Pre-production quantities of the BQ41Z90 and production quantities of the BQ41Z50 are available on TI.com, along with evaluation modules (BQ41Z90EVM and BQ41Z50EVM), reference designs, and simulation models. Additional details are available in the technical article, “Redefining battery accuracy: How the Dynamic Z-Track algorithm predicts unpredictable battery load.”
