Microchip Technology has introduced two new digital power monitors, the PAC1711 and PAC1811, designed to reduce the energy required for monitoring power consumption in battery-operated and energy-restricted devices. According to the company, these monitors use half the power of similar products when operating at 1024 samples per second.
The new devices provide real-time alerts for power events and feature a step-alert function that can detect changes in long-term average power usage. “Until now, portable devices and a variety of energy-constrained applications have needed to burn a significant amount of valuable power to measure how much they are consuming,” said Keith Pazul, vice president of Microchip’s mixed-signal linear business unit. “Unlike many existing solutions, Microchip’s power monitors function as independent ‘watchdog’ peripherals, eliminating the need for the MCU to handle power monitoring tasks. These monitors allow the MCU or host processor to remain dormant until a significant power event occurs such as needing an LCD screen to power on.”
Both models support bus voltages from 0 to 42 volts and communicate over an I2C interface. They come in VDFN-8 and VDFN-10 packages compatible with SOT23-8 footprints, which simplifies integration into existing systems. The step-alert capability maintains a running average of voltage and current values, notifying the microcontroller if there is a significant user-defined change.
A slow-sample pin option enables sampling every eight seconds for further energy savings. The built-in accumulator register helps track system battery aging or time to recharge by providing short-term historical data that can inform long-term decisions.
The evaluation board is compatible with MikroElektronika’s mikroBUS standard, making it easier for developers to test device features. A Linux driver is available on product pages along with a generic C library containing usage examples for various Microchip microcontrollers.
The PAC1711 is currently available starting at $0.58 each in quantities of 10,000 units. The evaluation board (PAC1711-Click) costs $15 each and is also available now.
Microchip Technology supplies semiconductors across multiple sectors including industrial, automotive, consumer electronics, aerospace and defense, communications, and computing. The company offers technical support and development tools aimed at helping customers throughout their design processes.
For more information about these products or purchasing options, visit www.microchipdirect.com or www.microchip.com.
