The bq29312 is a 2-, 3-, or 4-cell lithium-ion battery pack protection analog front end (AFE) IC that incorporates a 3.3-V, 25-mA low-dropout regulator (LDO). The bq29312 also integrates an I²C compatible interface to extract battery parameters such as cell voltages and control output status. Other parameters such as current protection thresholds and delays can be programmed into the bq29312 to increase the flexibility of the battery management system.

The bq29312 provides safety protection for overcharge, overload, short-circuit, overvoltage, and undervoltage conditions in conjunction with the battery management host. In overload and short-circuit conditions, the bq29312 turns the FET drive off autonomously dependant on the internal configuration setting.

The communications interface allows the host to observe and control the current status of the bq29312. It enables cell balancing, enters different power modes, sets overload levels, sets the overload blanking delay time, sets short-circuit threshold levels for charge and discharge, and sets the short-circuit blanking delay time.

Cell balancing of each cell is performed via a cell bypass path, which is enabled via the internal control register accessible via the I²C compatible interface. The maximum bypass current is set via an external series resistor and internal FET on resistance (typical 400 ).