Differential interface for inter-device communication in a battery management and protection system
First Claim
1. A battery management and protection integrated circuit comprising a communication interface circuit that comprises:
- a first pair of differential input signal lines;
a first receiver comprising a first current comparator circuit to receive incoming differential signals on the first pair of differential input signal lines;
a first transmitter to provide outgoing differential signals on the first pair of differential input signal lines;
a second pair of differential input signal lines;
a second receiver comprising a second current comparator circuit to receive incoming differential signals on the second pair of differential input signal lines;
a second transmitter to provide outgoing differential signals on the second pair of differential input signal lines; and
a digital circuit block that allows signals to pass from the first receiver to the second transmitter and that allows signals to pass from the second receiver to the first transmitter,wherein each of the first and second current comparator circuits includes;
class AB voltage output stages to generate current signals based on differential current input signals; and
current mirrors to transfer the current signals generated by the class AB voltage output stages to a summing node so as to provide a digital voltage output based on the differential input current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-cell battery stack includes a microcontroller and a string of battery management and protection IC devices connected to one another in a daisy chain configuration. Each battery management and protection IC device can include a communication interface circuit includes pairs of differential input signal lines, receivers including respective current comparator circuits to receive differential signals on the differential input signal lines, and transmitters to provide outgoing differential signals on the differential input signal lines. A digital circuit block allows signals to pass between the receivers and transmitters.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A battery management and protection integrated circuit comprising a communication interface circuit that comprises:
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a first pair of differential input signal lines; a first receiver comprising a first current comparator circuit to receive incoming differential signals on the first pair of differential input signal lines; a first transmitter to provide outgoing differential signals on the first pair of differential input signal lines; a second pair of differential input signal lines; a second receiver comprising a second current comparator circuit to receive incoming differential signals on the second pair of differential input signal lines; a second transmitter to provide outgoing differential signals on the second pair of differential input signal lines; and a digital circuit block that allows signals to pass from the first receiver to the second transmitter and that allows signals to pass from the second receiver to the first transmitter, wherein each of the first and second current comparator circuits includes; class AB voltage output stages to generate current signals based on differential current input signals; and current mirrors to transfer the current signals generated by the class AB voltage output stages to a summing node so as to provide a digital voltage output based on the differential input current. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A battery management and protection integrated circuit comprising a communication interface circuit that comprises:
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a first pair of differential input signal lines; a first receiver comprising a first current comparator circuit to receive incoming differential signals on the first pair of differential input signal lines; a first transmitter to provide outgoing differential signals on the first pair of differential input signal lines; a second pair of differential input signal lines; a second receiver comprising a second current comparator circuit to receive incoming differential signals on the second pair of differential input signal lines; a second transmitter to provide outgoing differential signals on the second pair of differential input signal lines; and a digital circuit block that allows signals to pass from the first receiver to the second transmitter in a transparent manner and that allows signals to pass from the second receiver to the first transmitter in a transparent manner, wherein each of the first and second transmitters includes a driver control portion and digital push/pull output drivers. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification