Low power devices
Since 2017, we have been developing low-power devices. Most of these devices are powered by batteries with a capacity of up to 250 mAh. We have experience developing a device that runs on a 15 mAh battery.
Developing low-power devices requires an integrated approach. We begin development with the creation of a product concept. When creating a concept, we focus on many criteria, not forgetting that the device must operate on a very small energy source. We continue the process with the selection of low-power electronic components. The creation of software architecture plays a very important role. The concept here can be described as follows: The system wakes up only when there is a task that needs to be performed. As soon as the task is completed, all unnecessary peripherals are turned off and the system goes to sleep again.
Below is an example of the consumption of one of the devices in passive mode. The device wakes up every 10 seconds to check the battery level (tied to temperature) and a few other parameters. The accelerometer works in autonomous mode and controls the position of the device in space. It is able to wake up the processor when the position changes. Consumption is 5.2 µA.
Below is an example of using the same device in active mode. The accelerometer measures acceleration and saves data to its own buffer. The processor wakes up as soon as a certain amount of data is collected. After waking up, it makes calculations, changes the accelerometer settings, and goes to sleep again. And so on several times (sometimes dozens of times) per second. From time to time, data is transmitted via radio. Total system consumption in active mode: 98.4µA. The numbers speak for themselves.
Most of the work to reduce power consumption is done in software development. But don't forget about the hardware part, too. For example, choosing the right oscillator and load capacitors as well as components used in reset circuit will let you to save precious microseconds and even milliseconds in the startup sequence (every time the processor wakes up).