Embedded designers continue to seek new ways to optimise power consumption for both extended battery life and greater line-power efficiency. As MCU vendors and users have greatly reduced hardware power consumption – such as the 9 nA sleep and 30 µA/MHz active current consumption of Microchip's eXtreme Low Power (XLP) PIC MCUs – application software is the next place for engineers to focus. Microchip's Power Monitor Module provides programmable power to the target, as well as sampling intervals, enabling users to run at specific voltage levels and see tailored measurements. Designers can also set a "current break" threshold level that breaks when exceeded, allowing them to pinpoint the code causing the spike and debug it. All of these measurements can be displayed graphically, via the "Current Profile Graphing" feature, enabling engineers to better understand which sections of their code are consuming higher current.
"The MPLAB REAL ICE Power Monitor Module meets our customers' need for a low-cost software optimisation tool that enables them to squeeze every last drop of power efficiency out of their code," said Derek Carlson, Microchip's vice president of Development Tools. "Together with our XLP PIC microcontrollers for battery-powered applications, and our MCUs and dsPIC® digital signal controllers for digital power conversion, motor control and metering, Microchip now provides the industry's first complete low-power embedded design platform."
Availability
The MPLAB REAL ICE Power Monitor Module (part # AC244008) is available today. For additional information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorised worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip's website at http://www.microchip.com/get/M530. To purchase products mentioned in this press release, go to microchipDIRECT or contact one of Microchip's authorised distribution partners.
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About Microchip Technology
Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at http://www.microchip.com/get/T23A.
