NXP announces next-generation battery junction box ics for new electric vehicle battery pack monitoring technology

     NXP Semiconductors announced the MC33777, the first battery junction box IC to integrate key battery pack system-level features, including autonomous point-burst fuse drive, into a single device. Unlike traditional battery-level monitoring solutions that require multiple external independent components, external actuators, and computational processing support, NXP's MC33777 incorporates important BMS capabilities. The IC improves the overall performance of the system while significantly reducing the complexity of system design, the effort of qualification and software development, and the cost of Oems.

     This advanced IC helps protect high-voltage batteries from overcurrent by continuously monitoring the battery current value and change slope value every eight microseconds. For example, it can detect and react to a wide range of configurable events, identify short-circuit risk events, automatically make decisions and trigger fuses, and overall respond up to 10 times faster than traditional ics without waiting to exceed specific current thresholds.

     The MC33777 also features traditional blown fuses simulation, which allows customers to remove costly and less reliable blown fuses from the system, resulting in significant cost savings for Oems and first-line manufacturers, while improving reliability and enhancing the safety of vehicle occupants. Traditionally, electric vehicles deploy blown fuses to disconnect the vehicle's power supply in the event of an overload, so the reliability of fuses is a critical safety factor.

     Jesus Ruiz Sevillano, Director of Product Marketing for BMS at NXP, said: "Integrating all the functions needed to monitor battery packs and enable rapid response during safety-critical events into a single device brings significant advantages to Oems and end users. NXP's MC33777 marks the birth of a new generation of battery junction box ics for electric vehicles, which can provide a faster, safer and more economic management solution for high-voltage battery packs."