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Dukosi offers an innovative battery-cell monitoring solution that utilizes chip-on-cell technology to effectively manage the health, performance, and safety of batteries. This technique is specifically engineered to surpass the constraints of traditional wired and wireless-based battery management systems (BMS) by integrating a compact chip directly onto every individual battery cell.
Established in 2003 and based in Edinburgh, UK, Dukosi focuses on battery-monitoring technologies. The company aims to address the challenges faced by battery-powered applications. The chip-on-cell technology and cell monitoring solution utilize a contactless communication system that relies on a near-field communication approach to monitor and record operational data and events of each cell in the battery pack. This data is then transmitted to the Dukosi system hub chip, which can be integrated into the conventional BMS Host.
Cell-to-pack is an innovative battery design that involves integrating the cells directly into the pack, eliminating the need for traditional module-based architectures. This not only grants manufacturers increased flexibility in design but also enhances safety and dependability, perhaps resulting in a twofold increase in the latter and a reduction in the bulk of the battery pack.
The DK8x02 Evaluation Kit
The setup of the DK8x02 Evaluation Kit (EVK) can be carried out following two distinct approaches:
- Setup using DK8102 GUI on a Windows-based PC Host (USB & GUI integration)
- Setup using DKCMS Library integrated on the BMS Host (SPI & Host integration)
In both cases, the default DK8x02 EVK comprises one DK8102 Cell Monitor Board and one DK8202 System Hub Unit. However, the EVK can be tailored to meet target system requirements where a larger network of DK8102 Cell Monitors may be needed to run a proof of concept on a live module or pack.
The EVK includes all cables, boards, connectors, etc. allowing the GUI or SPI to be used with ease. More specifically, the GUI integration option (shown in Figure 1) includes the following hardware:
- DK8102 Cell Monitor Board
- DK8202 System Hub Unit
- Balun and Bus Antenna
- Co-Axial Cable
- USB Cable
- DK8102 GUI (DK8102.exe)
The SPI integration option, shown in Figure 2, is based on the following parts:
- DK8102 Cell Monitor Board
- DK8202 System Hub Unit
- Balun and Bus Antenna
- Co-Axial Cable
- SPI_IO Cable
- DKCMS Library
The setup procedure, for both types of integrations, is detailed in the DK8x02 EVK User Guide document, which also contains a part related to the bus antenna alignment. This operation is necessary to enable the near-field communication capability (see Figure 3). It also describes how to check that the additional sensors, such as the external thermistors, are optimally placed, i.e. adhered with the thermal compound to the desired surface.
The position of the external thermistors, the PCB antenna, as well as the required connection are shown in Figure 4, which provides an overview of the 29 x 25 mm DK8102 Cell Monitor Board.
The LED D1 in the upper left quadrant of the board is particularly useful during the setup phase, as it indicates if the DK8202 System Hub Unit has been detected or not and if it has synced and joined the network.
The DK8102 Cell Monitor ICs designed and supplied by Dukosi utilize accurate and synchronized on-cell measurements, along with electrically separated wireless near-field communication, to transmit data to a DK8202 System Hub IC. The DK8202 System Hub IC establishes robust communication with the BMS main processor through the Dukosi-supplied API. On-cell data storage enables comprehensive traceability throughout the whole lifespan of a cell.
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
The DK8102 Graphical User Interface (GUI) can be used in conjunction with the DK8x02 Evaluation Kit (EVK) to evaluate the functionality of the device.
The DK8102 GUI v0.2.1.0 provides a functional evaluation of the following features:
- Network configuration using unique DK8102 Cell Monitor IDs
- In-field updates (IFU)
- VSNS, THERM1, THERM2 and DTS measurement
- RF network diagnostics
- Measurement limit breach reporting
- Cell balancing
- Cell passport
- Configurable RF power level control
The DK8102 GUI provides the following features:
- Status: displays status indicators for USB connection, Network Formed, and Cell Balancing. Depending on the context, a green indicator signals a good or enabled status and a red indicator signals a bad or disabled status.
- Network formation: a network can be formed with Cell Monitors with unknown IDs or with known IDs.
- Read Cell Monitor ID: Cell Monitor ID reports the Cell Monitor ID corresponding to the entered Network Address.
- Read Firmware Version
- Read DK8102 GUI and DKCMS Library Versions
- Read System Details: System Details displays the number of cell monitors in the network and the Cell Monitor IDs
- In-Field Updates: Firmware images are available on Dukosi’s Customer Portal. When a new firmware version is released, a notification email is sent to Customer Portal users.
- Channel Measurements
- Measurements Limits
- Cell Balancing (Figure 5)
- Cell Passport: DK8102 GUI allows writing and readback of Cell Passport Items (in the form of UTF-8 string data) in DK8102 flash non-volatile memory (NVM) via Cell Passport.
- RF Power Levels
- Debug and Data Log
Below are some images representing the development kit and its GUI. Figure 6 depicts a graphical user interface (GUI) featuring two cells, likely representing a software interface for managing or monitoring battery cells. Figure 7 showcases the process of balancing cells, suggesting a feature or function related to ensuring uniform charging or discharging among multiple cells. Figure 8 illustrates an example of connections involving two batteries, possibly demonstrating how they are linked or configured within a system.
The post Dukosi Evaluation Kit for its DK8x02 Cell Monitor Solution appeared first on Power Electronics News.
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