Search for better power efficiency

I bought my first mobile phone exactly a decade ago. That phone did not have a camera, music player, GPS, Bluetooth, Web browser, not even a calculator. It lacked all the fancy features, but it was packed with battery power that can last up to a week. Today I use a 3G phone with multi-media functions that burn through a full charge in hours, and frankly, charging it almost every day is a pain in the neck.

Unfortunately, battery technology has not kept pace with the new functions (and power demand) of handheld devices; hence arises the necessity to find ‘other’ ways of achieving longer operating time. Designers are being driven to explore all options to save power – from reducing operating voltage and altering current conversion topologies; optimizing displays; to solving programming challenges of signal-processing applications. Every minute detail to conserve power counts.

In this EDNA supplement, five companies presented different ways of enhancing power efficiency in portable devices. Fairchild Semiconductor explained new methods of powering LEDs to conserve energy while providing consistent light quality. CSR plc discussed the future of low power wireless communications such as the Bluetooth low energy technology. Microchip’s article focused on power-management circuitry and discussed how to select the right DC/DC converter for portable applications. Meanwhile, Linear Technology talked about solving the complex problem of providing a fixed 3.3V output rail in a single-cell Li-Ion powered handheld device. And finally, Wolfson Microelectronics explained the significance of extrapolating data from test conditions to give designers a clearer picture of audio IC power consumption.

As you can see, the investment and innovation in the portable power area is exploding, and the race is on to establish cost-effective and scalable solutions. Tough targets to reduce power consumption have already been set, and at the end of the day, demanding end-consumers like me will reap the rewards of their hard work.