NXP's Ultra-Wideband Wireless Battery Management System Solution has been shortlisted for the Electronics Excellence Awards under the Test & Measurement Product category.
Ultra-wideband (UWB) battery management system (BMS) overcomes challenges faced by narrow-band based wireless technologies due to higher resistance to reflections and fading. UWB enables robust and reliable transfer of battery cell information such as voltage and temperature measurements from one module to the battery management unit without the need for wiring. It helps to ensure optimal performance and prevent conditions that lead to premature failure or safety hazards.
Leveraging wireless solutions minimises the use of complex wiring harnesses in the battery pack, and reduces the need for error-prone manual effort during production, which makes the assembly of EVs more efficient and reduces overall lifecycle costs. The elimination of connectors and wiring between battery cells allows for increased energy density, which is a key parameter in EV design and performance to enable longer range.
Multiple technology options are available for replacing inter-module wired communication with wireless technology. But the RF situation in a battery pack is very specific and significantly different from communication in open air, for which most wireless systems are optimised.
A modular battery pack consists of multiple battery modules packed in a metal enclosure. The metal casing generates many reflections, and the signal bounces around for some time, yielding a rich multipath environment. This translates into a highly frequency-selective fading, which highly depends on the position of the antennas and the openings or corridors between the modules. Additionally, non-predictable interference from other systems operating in the same band may also affect transmissions in the battery pack. These two factors severely impact narrow-band systems.
For the UWB type of pulsed signal, narrow frequency notches in the band hardly impact the signal quality, as energy is harvested over a wide bandwidth (hence the name Ultra-Wideband). This ensures robust data communication performance for all the transmitter – receiver links inside the battery pack, thereby enabling broadcast-type of messages.
For more information, visit: https://www.nxp.com/products/BMA606X
The Electronics Excellence Awards ceremony will take place at embedded world on 12th March at 4.30pm at the Hall 3 Forum.
You’re all welcome to come and see which product will win!
