Maxim Integrated ModelGauge m5 fuel gauges for battery packs

Implementing pack-side battery gauges in portable devices is now easy and secure with the ModelGauge m5 portfolio of MAX17201/MAX17205 and MAX17211/MAX17215 from Maxim Integrated Products. They are suitable for any rechargeable battery-operated device, such as wearables, drones, tablets, smartphones and other IoT applications.

Fuel gauging can be difficult because battery voltage varies with temperature and load, while coulomb counting requires sophisticated compensation to eliminate offset accumulation errors. Maxim’s ModelGauge m5 fuel gauges include an algorithm that converts raw measurements such as battery voltage, current and temperature into state of charge (SOC%), absolute capacity (mAh), time to empty and time to full (while charging), all of which improve the user experience of the host device while enabling maximum runtime.

Battery packs need to be replaced every few years — when batteries age, their characteristics change over time and no longer provide adequate run time. The fuel gauge’s robust algorithm detects the smallest changes in the capacity of the battery to predict how long the battery will last before the capacity degrades rapidly. With the Cycle+ age forecast information, system designers are able to adjust charger parameters to extend the battery life or to plan a timely replacement of the battery.