6.3.2. Interface MAX17841B v1.0.0

6.3.2.1. Overview

Important

The following description only applies for the MAX17841B-based BMS-Interface Board hardware version 1.0.0.

Hint

All connector pinouts described below follow the Convention for Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 Connector Pin Numbering and Convention for Samtec Edge Rate connectors.

The BMS-Interface Board is used to enable communication between the BMS-Master Board and the BMS-Slave Boards. A 3D rendering from the TOP side view of the BMS-Interface Board is shown in Fig. 6.4. The BMS-Interface Board is intended to be used together with a BMS-Master Board.

../../../_images/maxim-max17841b-v1.0.0_rendering.png

Fig. 6.4 3D rendering of the BMS-Interface Board

6.3.2.2. Specifications

6.3.2.2.1. Mechanical Dimensions

The size of the PCB is 70 mm x 120 mm. A 3D-model and a drawing of the PCB can be found in Design Resources

6.3.2.2.2. Battery Management UART Insulation

The interface board is designed for a maximum continuous insulation voltage of 1250 V DC between all two Maxim Battery Management UART channels and between each Maxim Battery Management UART channel and the BMS-Master Board.

The insulation is designed according to DIN EN 60664-1:2008-01 under the following conditions:

  • Type of insulation: functional

  • Electrical field: homogeneous

  • Pollution degree: 2

  • PCB insulator class: 3b

  • Transient voltage: 4300 V DC

  • Continuous (working) voltage: 1250 V DC (selected due to design space constraints on PCB)

The PCB design complies with the following parameters:

  • Clearance: 1.3 mm

  • Creepage distance: 12.5 mm

6.3.2.2.3. Block Diagram

A block diagram of the BMS-Interface Board is shown in Fig. 6.5.

../../../_images/maxim-max17841b-v1.0.0_block_diagram.png

Fig. 6.5 Block diagram of the BMS-Interface Board

Each MAX17841B communication chip from Maxim Integrated provides one UART channel. Each channel is comprised of a RX and a TX signal, each using one insulation transformer. The MAX17841B chips are directly connected to the MCU via SPI.

6.3.2.2.4. Schematic and Board Layout

More information about the board schematic and layout files can be found in section Design Resources. For better debugging, there are test-points on the PCB for all relevant IO signals. In addition to test-points, a pin header (J101) allows an easier connection to a logic analyzer.

6.3.2.3. Functions

6.3.2.3.1. Maxim Battery Management UART communication

The BMS-Interface Board offers up to two isolated Maxim Battery Management UART communication channels using the MAX17841B transceiver chip from Maxim Integrated. The MAX17841B transceivers are controlled by the SPI signals from the BMS-Master Board. The UART RX signals are available on the connectors J102 and J104. The pinout of the connectors is described in Table 6.3.

Table 6.3 UART RX Input Connectors

Pin

Signal

Description

1

UART_RX_p

UART RX positive

2

UART_RX_n

UART RX negative

The UART TX signals are available on the connectors J103 and J105. The pinout of the connectors is described in Table 6.4.

Table 6.4 UART TX Output Connectors

Pin

Signal

Description

1

UART_TX_p

UART TX positive

2

UART_TX_n

UART TX negative

For the connection to the BMS-Master Board, a 40-pole mezzanine connector (J100) is used. The pinout and pin usage is described in Table 6.5

Table 6.5 Signal connector to BMS-Master Board

Pin

Signal

Description

Usage on BMS-Interface Board

1

MCU_SPI1.SOMI0

-

UART channel 1

2

MCU_SPI1.SOMI1

-

-

3

MCU_SPI1.SIMO0

-

UART channel 1

4

MCU_SPI1.SIMO1

-

-

5

MCU_SPI1.CLK

-

UART channel 1

6

MCU_SPI1.CS1

-

UART channel 1

7

MCU_SPI1.CS2

-

-

8

MCU_SPI1.CS3

-

-

9

MCU_SPI1.CS4

-

-

10

MCU_SPI1.CS5

-

-

11

MCU_SPI4.SOMI

-

UART channel 2

12

MCU_SPI4.SIMO

-

UART channel 2

13

MCU_SPI4.CLK

-

UART channel 2

14

MCU_SPI4.CS0

-

UART channel 2

15

MCU_SPI4.CS1

-

-

16

MCU_SPI4.CS2

-

-

17

MCU_SPI4.CS3

-

-

18

MCU_SPI4.CS4

-

-

19

MCU_SPI4.CS5

-

-

20

IF_INT0

Interrupt pin, connected to MCU GIOA_2

UART channel 1 [max17841b] interrupt

21

IF_INT1

Interrupt pin, connected to MCU GIOA_3

UART channel 1 [max17841b] enable

22

IF_INT2

Interrupt pin, connected to MCU GIOA_4

UART channel 2 [max17841b] interrupt

23

IF_INT3

Interrupt pin, connected to MCU GIOA_6

UART channel 2 [max17841b] enable

24

IF_GPIO.0

GPIO pin, connected to port expander 3 IO1_0

UART channel 1 [max17841b] enable

25

IF_GPIO.1

GPIO pin, connected to port expander 3 IO1_1

UART channel 2 [max17841b] enable

26

IF_GPIO.2

GPIO pin, connected to port expander 3 IO1_2

-

27

IF_GPIO.3

GPIO pin, connected to port expander 3 IO1_3

-

28

IF_GPIO.4

GPIO pin, connected to port expander 3 IO1_4

-

29

IF_GPIO.5

GPIO pin, connected to port expander 3 IO1_5

-

30

IF_GPIO.6

GPIO pin, connected to port expander 3 IO1_6

-

31

IF_GPIO.7

GPIO pin, connected to port expander 3 IO1_7

-

32

GND

Power supply ground

Power supply ground

33

GND

Power supply ground

Power supply ground

34

PER_3.3V

3.3 V from peripheral SBC

3.3 V power supply

35

PER_3.3V

3.3 V from peripheral SBC

3.3 V power supply

36

PER_5.0V

5.0 V from peripheral SBC

-

37

PER_5.0V

5.0 V from peripheral SBC

-

38

VBB_12V

12 V from buck-boost converter

-

39

VSUP

Master supply voltage (after protection circuits)

-

40

VSUP

Master supply voltage (after protection circuits)

-

All important IO signals are connected to a pin header (J101) to provide an easy connection to a logic analyzer. The pinout of this header is described in Table 6.6

Table 6.6 Debug connector

Pin

Signal

Description

1

GND

-

2

GND

-

3

MCU_SPI4.CS0

UART channel 2

4

MCU_SPI1.CS1

UART channel 1

5

MCU_SPI4.SIMO

UART channel 2

6

MCU_SPI1.SIMO0

UART channel 1

7

MCU_SPI4.SOMI

UART channel 2

8

MCU_SPI1.SOMI0

UART channel 1

9

MCU_SPI4.CLK

UART channel 2

10

MCU_SPI1.CLK

UART channel 1

11

IF_INT2

UART channel 2 [max17841b] interrupt

12

IF_INT0

UART channel 1 [max17841b] interrupt