The bq2013H Gas Gauge IC is intended for battery-pack installation to maintain an accurate record of a battery’s
available charge. The IC monitors a voltage drop across a sense resistor connected in series between the negative battery terminal and ground to determine charge and discharge activity of the battery. The bq2013H is designed for high cpaacity battery packs used in high-discharge rate systems.
Battery self-discharge is estimated based on an internal timer and temperature sensor. Compensations for battery temperature, rate of charge, and self-discharge are applied to the charge counter to provide available capacity information across a wide
range of operating conditions. Initial battery capacity, self-discharge rate, display mode, and charge compensation are set using the PROG1-6 pins. Actual battery capacity is automatically "learned" in the course of a discharge cycle from full to empty.
Nominal available charge may be directly indicated using a five-segment LED display. These segments are used to graphically indicate nominal available charge.
The bq2013H supports a simple single-line bi-directional serial link to an external processor (common ground). The bq2013H outputs battery information in response to external commands over the serial link. To support battery pack testing, the outputs may also be controlled by command. The external processor may also overwrite some of the bq2013H gas gauge data registers.
The bq2013H may operate directly from four nickel cells or three lead acid. With the REF output and an external transistor, a simple, inexpensive regulator can be built to provide VCC from a greater number of cells.
Internal registers include available charge, temperature, capacity, battery ID, and battery status.
