Though not clearly visible to the eye, embedded systems are everywhere. They are hidden inside your car, your microwave, and even in your fitness tracker. These systems are designed to do one thing, and do it well. But here’s the scoop: most of them run on limited power. They are dependent on batteries and low-power sources. 

Power management is critical for the efficient working of any system. It guarantees that the systems last longer. So, if you’re designing for IoT devices, wearable tech, or any other embedded system, don’t forget to consider the power management..

Let’s find out the secret behind good power management in these systems. We have some tricks that can help!

1. Choose Low-Power Components

The first step in optimizing power usage is the selection of suitable hardware. The components have modern power-efficient versions that can extend battery life. This validates that your embedded system doesn’t drain energy unnecessarily.

Here’s what matters the most:

• Low-Power Microcontrollers: Your system’s brains are low-power microcontrollers. Find MCUs with deep sleep and sleep modes, which are low-power modes. These modes enable it to use the least amount of power possible when the system is idle.
• Efficient Sensors: Select low-power sensors if your system makes use of them. The ultra-modern sensors only turn on when they notice a change. They will never work constantly. This can enormously cut back power usage.
• Low-Power Displays: E-ink or low-power LCD screens are incredible options for devices with displays. It can be fitness trackers or smartwatches. They use a lot less energy compared to conventional backlit screens.

2. Power Modes

It’s time to familiarise yourself with the different power modes that the parts of your system can function in! Your system’s power management will improve as it makes better use of these modes.

• Sleep Mode: This is the most basic low-power mode. In this mode, the microcontroller stops most of its functions. However, it quickly wakes up when needed. This mode is highly recommended for devices that are waiting for input or need to check in periodically.
• Standby Mode: Even less energy is used in standby mode than in sleep mode. The watchdog timer and other critical components can remain operational. Yet, the majority of the system is in standby. When a device doesn’t need to respond right away but should be accessible, standby is perfect.
• Deep Sleep Mode: The best low-power setting is Deep Sleep Mode. It cuts back energy usage and turns off the majority of the system, including the clock. The system can only be aroused from deep sleep by external triggers.

3. Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling 

Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling is a technique that adjusts the system’s voltage and clock frequency as per the workload. The purpose is to balance power consumption with performance.

Here’s how it works:

• Your system uses little power and runs at low voltage and frequency when it is idle or performing simple tasks.
• The system switches to higher voltage and higher frequency to provide better performance when it is under a lot of strain. Some common situations are processing large amounts of data or handling demanding tasks.

4. Use Energy Harvesting

Recharging your system’s battery through energy harvesting is similar to capturing power from the surroundings. This method is immensely popular for embedded systems that must run for a long time. They do not need any manual battery replacement or recharging.

Some common energy harvesting methods include:

• Solar panels: Excellent for solar-exposed outdoor systems, such as smart sensors.
• Vibration energy: Wearables and other mobile devices that can produce energy through motion
• Thermal energy: You can use temperature variations to produce power if your device is close to a heat source..

5. Software Optimization

Power management is not limited to the hardware. It also covers the way your software communicates with the hardware. Software optimization can massively cut down on wasteful power usage. Here are some pointers:

• Interrupt-Driven Design: Utilize an interrupt-driven strategy rather than continuously checking for tasks. This keeps the processor running. In this manner, the system remains in a low-power mode until an event (such as a sensor detection) alerts the system.
• Efficient Code: Write concise code. Software that isn’t optimized well implies that your system is running longer than it needs to. This will consume more energy. Efficient algorithms decrease the amount of time the system is in active mode, so less energy is used.
• Sleep During Idle Times: If the system has no tasks to perform, it should go into a sleep mode. Even if the device is just waiting for input, it should use as little power as possible.

6. Battery Management Systems 

If your embedded system relies on a battery, it’s paramount to implement a Battery Management System. A BMS tracks and manages the charging and discharging of the battery. It guarantees that the battery is used efficiently. This improves its life and maintains its performance.

Here’s how a BMS helps:

• Monitoring: It ensures that the battery is not being overcharged or rapidly depleted by keeping an eye on its condition.
• Optimization: It optimizes how power is drawn from the battery as per the needs of the system.
• Safety: It also makes sure the battery doesn’t overheat or is damaged by operating within safe bounds.

Wrap Up!

In embedded systems, power management is vital for energy conservation. This validates that your devices operate in the best condition. They will be dependable over time. Your embedded systems’ battery life and overall efficiency can be greatly increased by choosing low-power components and optimizing the software.

Efficient power management is necessary to build future-ready, sustainable, and reliable embedded devices that work well in our increasingly connected world. Therefore, these strategies will help you make the most of your power resources if you are developing automated systems or Internet of Things devices.