Texas Instruments ADVANCED-BQMTESTER

Overview

ADVANCED-BQMTESTER from Texas Instruments is a multi-station hardware/software test and calibration system for smart battery modules based on TI bq-series fuel gauges including bq20z4x, bq20z6x, bq20z7x, bq20z80, bq20z9x, bq306x, and bq28xxx. It performs coulomb counter offset, voltage, temperature, and current calibration; programs serial number, date, pack lot code, and golden image defaults; and supports up to 12 stations per PC via EV2300 interface boards. It is used in production line calibration of battery packs for laptops, medical devices, and industrial portable equipment.

For engineers reviewing the ADVANCED-BQMTESTER datasheet, ADVANCED-BQMTESTER pinout, ADVANCED-BQMTESTER application, or ADVANCED-BQMTESTER equivalent, this page provides verified technical context, key specifications, supply support, manufacturer background, and answers to common integration questions-including EV2300 firmware version requirements, HPA495 power supply isolation, SMBus/I²C interface configuration, and Golden Image file compatibility with Impedance Track™ devices.

Technical Context

The ADVANCED-BQMTESTER integrates the HPA495 calibration board with TI's EV2300 USB interface to deliver precision reference sources: ±0.1°C temperature accuracy (via external TMP100), <1 mV voltage calibration resolution, and <1 mA current calibration resolution. It uses dual isolated DC supplies (5 V/4 A and 24 V/0.5 A) to eliminate ground-loop errors during Kelvin-sense voltage measurements at the 1N terminal.

Software coordination is handled by MultiStationTester.exe and StationSetup.exe, which manage up to 12 concurrent bqTester.exe instances-one per EV2300 station-enabling synchronized calibration across multiple battery modules. The system requires Windows XP or 32-bit Windows 7, and validates EV2300 firmware ≥3.1L before operation.

Key Specifications

Availability

ADVANCED-BQMTESTER is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for battery pack production lines, smart battery qualification labs, and contract manufacturing facilities requiring stable component supply for bq-series fuel gauge calibration, Golden Image programming, and statistical data logging in compliance-critical environments.

Supply support for ADVANCED-BQMTESTER includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, specializing in analog, embedded processing, and power management technologies with over 90 years of innovation in industrial, automotive, and computing applications.

The ADVANCED-BQMTESTER belongs to TI's battery evaluation and production test tool product line, designed specifically to enable high-accuracy, repeatable calibration and programming of smart battery modules using TI's bq-series fuel gauge ICs in manufacturing and quality assurance settings.

FAQ

What is the ADVANCED-BQMTESTER and what does it do?

The ADVANCED-BQMTESTER is a Texas Instruments multi-station test and calibration system for smart battery modules. It uses the HPA495 calibration board and EV2300 interface to perform voltage, current, temperature, and coulomb counter offset calibration on TI bq-series fuel gauges (e.g., bq20z80, bq306x, bq28xx). It also programs serial numbers, dates, pack lot codes, and other parameters from a Golden Image file. The ADVANCED-BQMTESTER supports up to 12 stations per PC and is intended for production-line use-not evaluation-only.

Which fuel gauge ICs are supported by the ADVANCED-BQMTESTER?

The ADVANCED-BQMTESTER supports all devices listed in TI's official documentation: bq20z4x, bq20z6x, bq20z7x, bq20z80, bq20z9x (Impedance Track™), bq306x, and bq28xxx. It does not support newer bq27xxx, bq28z6xx, or bq7xxx series devices. Support is confirmed per SLUU397B User's Guide and is limited to the exact device families explicitly named - no extrapolation to related or successor parts is valid for the ADVANCED-BQMTESTER.

Does the ADVANCED-BQMTESTER require external power supplies, and if so, what specifications must they meet?

Yes - the ADVANCED-BQMTESTER requires two externally supplied, ground-isolated DC power sources: 5 VDC/4 A for logic and reference circuitry, and 24 VDC/0.5 A for high-voltage biasing. TI explicitly mandates isolation to prevent ground-loop errors during Kelvin-sense voltage calibration at the 1N terminal. Non-isolated supplies will cause measurement inaccuracies and are incompatible. Recommended models include CUI Inc EUA-101W-24 and EPA-201DA-05.

Can the ADVANCED-BQMTESTER run on modern Windows operating systems like Windows 10 or 11?

No - the ADVANCED-BQMTESTER software suite (including StationSetup.exe and MultiStationTester.exe) is officially supported only on Windows XP and 32-bit Windows 7. It is incompatible with Windows 10, Windows 11, and all 64-bit Windows versions. Driver signing, API changes, and architecture mismatches prevent functional operation. TI has not released updated software, and no third-party compatibility layer is validated or recommended for production use of the ADVANCED-BQMTESTER.

Is the EV2300 interface board included with the ADVANCED-BQMTESTER, or must it be ordered separately?

The EV2300 interface board is not included with the ADVANCED-BQMTESTER and must be ordered separately. TI documentation states clearly that "the EV2300 USB-based PC Interface Board… must be ordered separately." Each ADVANCED-BQMTESTER station requires one EV2300 board, and firmware version 3.1L or later is mandatory. Older EV2300 units without the "USB Tester Ready" label or with pre-3.1L firmware will be rejected during StationSetup.exe initialization.