Microcontroller Power Management via Peripheral Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices, particularly those requiring efficient microcontrollers, face challenges in balancing energy consumption between operation and standby modes, with existing solutions either consuming too much energy in standby or experiencing long wake-up times when power is switched off to reduce consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a selective power management system that cuts off power supply to non-essential peripheral units while maintaining it for the core and essential units, allowing for 'optimal standby' mode with reduced energy consumption and rapid wake-up times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the microcontroller is completely switched off to reduce energy consumption in standby mode, then energy consumption is reduced, but the wake-up time becomes too long and degrades user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller is segmented into two distinct power domains: a first power domain for the core unit that remains powered during standby, and a second power domain for peripheral units that can be selectively powered down. This segmentation allows independent power management of different functional blocks, enabling the system to achieve low standby power consumption by disconnecting non-essential peripherals while maintaining core functionality ready for immediate operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different power management strategies are applied to different parts of the microcontroller based on their functional importance. The core unit maintains continuous power supply to ensure rapid wake-up capability, while peripheral units are selectively powered down when not in use. This local differentiation of power quality allows the system to optimize overall energy consumption without sacrificing wake-up performance.
2Loss of time
If the microcontroller maintains full power supply in standby mode to enable rapid wake-up, then wake-up time is reduced, but energy consumption in standby mode becomes too high
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system dynamically adjusts the power state of different microcontroller components based on operational requirements. A power management circuit selectively connects or disconnects peripheral units from the power supply during standby mode while maintaining power to the core unit. This dynamic power state adjustment enables the system to achieve both low energy consumption and rapid wake-up capability.
3Loss of energy
If peripheral units are completely powered down to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but the system loses the ability to rapidly respond to wake-up events
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller is divided into critical core functionality that remains powered and non-critical peripheral units that can be powered down. This segmentation ensures that essential wake-up functions are always available while allowing energy-saving shutdown of non-essential components.
Solution Approach 2:
A power management circuit acts as an intermediary between the power supply and peripheral units, selectively controlling power delivery based on operational state. This intermediary component enables graceful power transitions and maintains system reliability by ensuring that power-critical functions remain operational while allowing non-critical functions to enter low-power states.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a printed circuit comprising a microcontroller (10) comprising at least one main element, termed the core, and at least one peripheral unit (102). According to the invention, the printed circuit comprises selective means (11) for managing the power supply of said microcontroller (10) utilising the following means: • means for receiving a command to shutdown (Cde Ext) said microcontroller, said command coming from an internal shutdown function (SHDN) of said microcontroller; • means for reversibly cutting the power supply of said at least one peripheral unit (102); • and means for maintaining the power supply of said core.