What this part is and where it fits
The Texas Instruments BQ296222DSGR is a dedicated battery protection IC for 2 to 4 series-connected lithium-ion cells. Its primary function is over-voltage fault protection — it monitors each cell voltage and triggers a protection output when any cell exceeds the over-voltage threshold. This is a protection-only device, not a fuel gauge or full battery monitor; it sits on the cell stack to provide a hardware safety layer independent of the system microcontroller. The part is housed in an 8-WSON (2x2 mm) package with an exposed thermal pad, surface-mount only.
Over-voltage protection — what it means for the BOM
The BQ296222DSGR provides over-voltage protection only — no under-voltage, over-current, or short-circuit detection is listed in the specification. In a multi-cell Li-ion pack, this IC handles the critical safety function of preventing cell voltage from exceeding the safe limit during charging. For a complete protection scheme, you would pair it with a separate over-current protector or a battery monitor that covers the other fault types. The 2 to 4 cell range means it fits 2S through 4S nominal packs.
Lifecycle and sourcing reality
The BQ296222DSGR is listed as Active with ROHS3 compliance.