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Production with TI fuel gauges

Adam Johnson
Expert 1310 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: BQPRODUCTION, BQEVSW, BQSTUDIO, BQ34Z100-G1

I'm evaluating several TI fuel gauges for a mobile product, including the bq27742, bq27441, system-side gauges, and bq27542 pack-side gauge.  My questions regard what is necessary in production to use these gauges.

I  saw this post https://e2e.ti.com/support/power_management/battery_management/f/180/t/432026 which describes using the bqProduction tool to program golden files to the gauge.  Is bqProduction still a current tool, or has it been superseeded by something else?  Where is its use documented?  Also, for ROM-based gauges like the bq27441, there is no golden file to write, correct?

Further, are there any recommended production tests for these gauges other than writing the golden file?

Thank you,

Adam J.

  • 0
    TI__Expert 8230 points

    Hello Adam,

    bqProduction is a tool for our multi-cell gauges, the devices you are evaluating are single-cell devices and usually the process from development to production is more streamlined than with multi-cell configurations. Many single-cell customers use their host to program their gauge.

    We have multiple documents that discuss the flow to production for our single-cell devices, please review the following document that covers the process for the bq2754x family, same concept applies for the 742; the differences are in that the devices you are evaluating use bqStudio while the document makes reference to bqEVSW, but the concepts still apply. The document also goes over the calibration process, which is similar to that done during evaluation. The bq27441, since it's ROM, uses a different file format, .gmfs. 

    Thank you.

  • 0 in reply to Fernando Lopez
    Intellectual 375 points

    Hi Fernando,

    how exactly would be using the host micrcontroller to program the chip? Read all registers, store all informations in it with their respective addresses and then write it on other gauges accessing tflash memory? Is it possible with BQ34Z100-G1?

    Thanks a lot

    Vítor Pereira

  • 0 in reply to Vítor Pereira
    TI__Guru 73830 points
    Vitor
    The bqStudio program can export a df.fs file that can be used by the uC to program devices in production. The file is a text file that contains the commands and data to program the DF.

    Tom
  • 0 in reply to ThomasCosby
    Intellectual 375 points
    Hi Tom,
    this clarify some confusion I had in my mind about how the three files (srec, .df.fs, .bq.fs) in the goden image file were for. Could you tell me how the other two are used?

    My problem is that the EV2300's driver isn't working in Windows 10, and reading the fórum, looks like nobody could solve the problem. Tried to make it work on a virtual machine using a Windows 7 (32 bit), but after the official driver is intalled, the EV2300 still can't be recognized (besides the fact that it shows as it was meant for Windows Vista).
    That's why I want to do it without using BQStudio and the EV2300.
    And one more question: supposing I would use the EV2300, I'd have to put a connector in the circuit in order to the dispositive communicat and programm the BQ34Z100-G1, right? I'm afraid I won't have that space on my PCB.

    Thanks

    Vítor Pereira
  • 0 in reply to Vítor Pereira
    TI__Guru 73830 points

    Vitor,

    The srec file is the Motorola SREC format and can be programmed to the device using our bqStudio or bqProduction tools. The bq.fs is the same as the df.fs, except that it contains the full flash memory and not just the data flash portion.

    There are a lot of our users who have moved to Windows 10 and are using the EV2300. Here is a document that may help.

    TomWindows10TestPlanReport.zip

  • 0 in reply to ThomasCosby
    Intellectual 375 points
    Hello Tom,
    this is good news. I couldn't find in the forum that someone had found the solution. I'll check it out and get back to you if it doesn't work.
    So what I can do is to use either the .bq.fs or the .df.fs file to get the set of commands I have to perform in my microcontroller's firmware in order to program each fuel gauge with the same settings as in the one which generated the golden file? Is it right?

    Thanks a lot.

    Vítor Pereira
  • 0 in reply to Vítor Pereira
    TI__Guru 73830 points

    Yes, you can export the data flash from the golden pack to a df.fs file and program it into production packs. You should not have to use the bq.fs file, unless you also need to upgrade the firmware version.

  • 0 in reply to ThomasCosby
    Intellectual 375 points
    Hi Thomas,
    I don't know what was it, but there was something wrong with the two windows I had tested before. I tried it agian in three different computers following the same steps (the ones in the document you sent me) and it worked. Thanks a lot.

    If I got it right, all the numbers in the .df.fs file are the hexa vales that need to be written to the fuel gauge through the I2C interface. Is it rigth?

    Thank you

    Vítor Pereira
  • 0 in reply to Vítor Pereira
    TI__Guru 73830 points

    Yes, the df.fs file contains the commands and data to unseal the device and program the data flash.

  • 0 in reply to ThomasCosby
    Expert 1310 points

    Vitor,

    Since you appear to need firmware that can program your fuel gauge, perhaps this will be of use to you:

    Adam J.

  • 0 in reply to Adam Johnson
    Intellectual 375 points

    Thanks a lot Adam, I'll check that out.

    Vítor Pereira