Low-Power Timing Using Secondary Oscillator and Microsequencer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional real-time embedded systems face challenges in minimizing power consumption due to the use of high frequency oscillators and microprocessors, which increase power consumption and require precise timing, while also needing to reduce the number of component activations to minimize energy usage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a low power oscillator with lower frequency in combination with higher resolution timing information, and utilizing a microsequencer to perform timing-critical tasks instead of a microprocessor, allowing for precise event triggering and reduced power consumption by activating components only when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high frequency oscillator is used to maintain higher precision timing, then timing precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timing system is segmented into two parts: a low-frequency oscillator that runs continuously with minimal power consumption, and a high-resolution timer that is activated only when precise timing is needed. This segmentation allows the system to maintain timing precision capability without continuously consuming high power.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-resolution timer is activated periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. The system switches between low-power mode (using only the low-frequency oscillator) and high-precision mode (activating the high-resolution timer) based on timing requirements, thereby reducing average power consumption while maintaining timing precision when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a microprocessor is used to provide programmability and functionality, then system functionality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microprocessor is extracted from continuous operation and replaced with a microsequencer for routine timing-critical tasks. The microprocessor is retained but activated only when complex programmable functionality is required, thereby reducing average power consumption while maintaining system adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
A microsequencer is introduced as an intermediary component between the hardware timers and the microprocessor. The microsequencer handles routine timing and control tasks that would otherwise require microprocessor intervention, reducing the microprocessor's workload and power consumption while maintaining system functionality.
3Speed
If components are frequently turned on to maintain system responsiveness, then system responsiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases due to capacitance charging
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares timing-critical components in advance by pre-loading timer values and pre-configuring registers during low-power intervals. When a timing event is triggered, the components are already prepared and can respond immediately without requiring frequent full activations, thereby reducing energy loss from repeated capacitance charging.
Data Source
AI summary
A device reduces its energy consumption using a relatively lower frequency and lower power secondary oscillator to maintain timing information when a higher frequency and higher power primary oscillator is inactivated. The secondary oscillator maintains timing information at a higher resolution than the period of the oscillator, so as to conserve synchronization when the higher frequency, higher power primary oscillator is inactivated. In some embodiments, a microsequencer is programmably configured to control an integrated radio receiver and transmitter using less power than an associated microprocessor would use to perform the same functions. In other embodiments, flexible event timing facilitates the merging of wake-up events to reduce the energy consumed by wake-up operations in the device.