What this part does — and where it fits
The Texas Instruments BQ294512DRVT is a secondary over-voltage protection IC for 2- or 3-series Lithium-Ion battery packs. It monitors each cell voltage and triggers an output when any cell exceeds the factory-set threshold, providing a hardware-level safety backup to the primary fuel-gauge or protector IC. The device is housed in a 6-WSON (2x2 mm) package, making it suitable for space-constrained battery packs in portable electronics, power tools, and medical devices where the operating temperature range of -40°C to 110°C covers both cold storage and moderate internal pack heating.
Over-voltage protection — the one spec that matters
The BQ294512DRVT is a dedicated over-voltage protector, not a full battery management system. It monitors each cell in a 2- or 3-series stack and pulls the OUT pin low if any cell voltage exceeds the internal reference. This is the safety net that prevents over-charge damage if the primary charger or gauge fails. The part does not provide over-current or short-circuit protection — those functions live in the companion protector or pack supervisor.
Package and mounting — design-in note
The BQ294512DRVT is supplied in a 6-WSON (2x2 mm) package. The exposed pad must be soldered to a PCB ground plane for thermal and mechanical stability.
Lifecycle and sourcing posture
The BQ294512DRVT is listed as Active on the manufacturer's status. No end-of-life notice or last-time-buy date has been issued. This is a current-production part, so new designs can commit to it without an immediate LTB risk. The ROHS3 compliance is confirmed, so no exemption expiry concerns for European markets.