June 10, 2014, Seoul, South Korea – Maxim Integrated ( www.maximintegrated.com ), a global leader in the highly integrated analog and mixed-signal semiconductor market, announced that its lithium-ion (Li+) battery monitor has been installed in the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, a sports utility vehicle (SUV) launched by Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. for the North American market.

The lithium-ion battery system used in the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid was developed by Hitachi Vehicle Energy and supplied by Hitachi Automotive Systems, and Maxim Integrated's monitor IC is installed in this battery system.

Maxim's lithium-ion battery monitor is designed to meet the high-voltage demands of the automotive industry by providing self-diagnostic capabilities and robust daisy-chain data communication. Furthermore, its highly integrated solution enables the implementation of smaller, lighter, high-performance lithium-ion battery systems in hybrid vehicles.

As a result, the Pathfinder Hybrid uses Hitachi's battery system equipped with Maxim's lithium-ion battery monitor IC, achieving a wider driving range compared to other systems while improving the overall safety of the battery system.

"Maxim's battery cell monitoring IC is an indispensable key to realizing smaller, lighter, high-power lithium-ion battery systems with high reliability, which are standard for the latest hybrid vehicles," said Koji Masui, manager of the Lithium-ion Battery Development Department at Hitachi Automotive Systems.

"The automotive market is a key focus for Maxim. We are very pleased that the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid has adopted Maxim's cell monitoring ICs," said Kent Robinett, Executive Vice President of Automotive Marketing at Maxim Integrated. "Maxim is developing next-generation EV/HEV powertrain systems and will continue to develop high-quality integrated solutions for the automotive market."

Maxim Integrated, a leader in analog innovation and integration, occupies a unique position distinct from other semiconductor companies in its ability to integrate a wide range of diverse analog functions onto a single chip. By providing highly integrated solutions, Maxim helps customers produce smaller and lighter systems with higher energy efficiency.