Battery protection integrated circuit and circuit characteristic setting method

A battery protection IC, including

• an overcharge detection circuit configured to detect an overcharge of a secondary battery,
• an over-discharge detection circuit configured to detect an over-discharge of the secondary battery,
• an overcurrent detection circuit configured to detect an overcurrent of the secondary battery,
• a control circuit configured to protect the secondary battery, by controlling charging and discharging the secondary battery when at least one fault is detected among the overcharge, the over-discharge and the overcurrent, and
• a delay circuit configured to generate a delay time to be passed before controlling charging and discharging the secondary battery after the fault has been detected,
• comprising:
• a memory unit configured to store at least one of data among characteristic setting data for setting a circuit characteristic of the battery protection IC, and characteristic adjustment data for adjusting an individual difference of the circuit characteristic of the battery protection IC;
• and
• a setting circuit configured to automatically set the circuit characteristic, and to adjust the individual difference, based on said one of data output from the memory unit,
• wherein the memory unit includes
• a set of a pair of non-volatile memory cells to complementarily store one bit, and a latch circuit having direct cross-coupled connections with outputs of the pair of memory cells, provided for each bit of said one of data,
• wherein the latch circuit automatically statically outputs the data stored in the memory cells provided for said one of data to the setting circuit when a power source of the battery protection IC rises.

A circuit characteristic setting method executed in a battery protection IC configured to protect a secondary battery, by controlling charging and discharging the secondary battery, after a delay time has passed since at least one fault has been detected among an overcharge of a secondary battery, an over-discharge of the secondary battery, and an overcurrent of the secondary battery,

• the method comprising:
• having a memory unit output at least one of data among characteristic setting data for setting a circuit characteristic of the battery protection IC, and characteristic adjustment data for adjusting an individual difference of the circuit characteristic of the battery protection IC, to have a setting circuit automatically set the circuit characteristic, or adjust the individual difference,
• wherein the memory unit includes a set of a pair of non-volatile memory cells to complementarily store one bit, and a latch circuit having direct cross-coupled connections with outputs of the pair of memory cells, provided for each bit of said one of data, and
• automatically statically outputting the data stored in the memory cells provided for said one of data to the setting circuit when a power source of the battery protection IC rises.

A battery protection IC, including

• an overcharge detection circuit configured to detect an overcharge of a secondary battery,
• an over-discharge detection circuit configured to detect an over-discharge of the secondary battery,
• an overcurrent detection circuit configured to detect an overcurrent of the secondary battery,
• a control circuit configured to protect the secondary battery, by controlling charging and discharging the secondary battery when at least one fault is detected among the overcharge, the over-discharge and the overcurrent, and
• a delay circuit configured to generate a delay time to be passed before controlling charging and discharging the secondary battery after the fault has been detected,
• comprising:
• a memory unit configured to store at least one of data among characteristic setting data for setting a circuit characteristic of the battery protection IC, and characteristic adjustment data for adjusting an individual difference of the circuit characteristic of the battery protection IC;
• and
• a setting circuit configured to automatically set the circuit characteristic, and to adjust the individual difference, based on said one of data output from the memory unit,
• wherein the memory unit includes
• a set of a pair of non-volatile memory cells to complementarily store one bit, and a latch circuit having cross-coupled connections with outputs of the pair of memory cells, provided for each bit of said one of data,
• wherein the latch circuit automatically statically outputs the data stored in the memory cells provided for said one of data to the setting circuit when a power source of the battery protection IC rises,
• wherein the latch circuit includes a first MOS transistor of a first conductive type, and a second MOS transistor of the first conductive type, cross-coupled and connected with each other,
• wherein the latch circuit further includes
• a first MOS transistor of a second conductivity type inserted between the first MOS transistor of the first conductive type and one of the pair of memory cells, and having a control terminal connected with a control terminal of the first MOS transistor of the first conductive type, and
• a second MOS transistor of the second conductivity type inserted between the second MOS transistor of the first conductive type and another of the pair of memory cells, and having a control terminal connected with a control terminal of the second MOS transistor of the first conductive type.

A battery protection IC, including

• an overcharge detection circuit configured to detect an overcharge of a secondary battery,
• an over-discharge detection circuit configured to detect an over-discharge of the secondary battery,
• an overcurrent detection circuit configured to detect an overcurrent of the secondary battery,
• a control circuit configured to protect the secondary battery, by controlling charging and discharging the secondary battery when at least one fault is detected among the overcharge, the over-discharge and the overcurrent, and
• a delay circuit configured to generate a delay time to be passed before controlling charging and discharging the secondary battery after the fault has been detected,
• comprising:
• a memory unit configured to store at least one of data among characteristic setting data for setting a circuit characteristic of the battery protection IC, and characteristic adjustment data for adjusting an individual difference of the circuit characteristic of the battery protection IC;
• and
• a setting circuit configured to automatically set the circuit characteristic, and to adjust the individual difference, based on said one of data output from the memory unit,
• wherein the memory unit includes
• a set of a pair of non-volatile memory cells to complementarily store one bit, and a latch circuit having cross-coupled connections with outputs of the pair of memory cells, provided for each bit of said one of data,
• wherein the latch circuit automatically statically outputs the data stored in the memory cells provided for said one of data to the setting circuit when a power source of the battery protection IC rises,
• wherein the latch circuit includes a first MOS transistor of a first conductive type, and a second MOS transistor of the first conductive type, cross-coupled and connected with each other,
• wherein the latch circuit further includes
• a first MOS transistor of a second conductivity type inserted between a memory power supply and one of the pair of memory cells, and having a control terminal connected with a control terminal of the first MOS transistor of the first conductive type, and
• a second MOS transistor of the second conductivity type inserted between the memory power supply and another of the pair of memory cells, and having a control terminal connected with a control terminal of the second MOS transistor of the first conductive type.