BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INTERGRATED CIRCUIT

A battery management system, BMS, integrated circuit, IC, () for a battery pack. The battery pack () comprises a sequence of battery cells connected in series; and a sequence of battery-cell-connection-nodes between adjacent battery cells. The BMS IC () comprises: a sequence of cell-measuring-pins () for connecting to corresponding battery-cell-connection-nodes; a plurality of bi-directional ESD protection elements (), each one connected between a pair of adjacent cell-measuring-pins () in the sequence; a sequence of cell-balancing-pins () for connecting to corresponding battery-cell-connection-nodes; and a plurality of dual polarity switches (), each one connected between a pair of adjacent cell-balancing-pins in the sequence.