1. Low-Power Embedded Solutions for IoT Sensor Nodes By Alexis Alcott Sr
Low-Power Embedded Solutions for IoT Sensor Nodes By Alexis Alcott Sr. Product Marketing Manager, MCU16 Division Microchip Technology Inc.

2. Internet-Enabled Applications
IoT Sensor Node

3. IoT Sensor Nodes Application Requirements
Low Power for Longest Possible Battery Life
Integrated Analog for Sensor Interface
Flexible Wireless Connection
Secure Data Transfer & Storage

4. Low Power MCU

5. Power Mode Clock Speed Program Flow
MCU Run Power – 3 Factors
Power Mode Clock Speed Program Flow

6. MCU Power Modes RUN DOZE IDLE LV SLEEP SLEEP DEEP SLEEP µA nA mA RAM
Retention
Mode
DOZE
IDLE
SLEEP
LV SLEEP
DEEP SLEEP µA nA mA
Core runs at slower speed, 25%-65% saved
Core off, peripherals run
75% saved
Core off, RAM off
Reset, peripherals off
Low V Regulator Enabled, 90% Savings
Core off, RAM on
Most peripherals off

7. 256 Hz to 32 MHz, under software control!
MCU Clock Speeds
Frequency
32 MHz is 5 mA
8 MHz is 1.3 mA
1 MHz is 150 µA
32 kHz is 26 µA
Spans
256 Hz to 32 MHz, under software control!

8. MCU Program Flow
Utilize peripherals that can operate while CPU is off (Idle)
ADC
Comparators
UART/SPI/I2C™
PWMs
Timers
Peripheral
Run Mode
Idle Mode
% Saved(3)
ADC
520 µA
250 µA
52%
Comparator
340 µA
70 µA
79%
SPI
Timers
320 µA
50 µA
84%

9. Battery-Life Estimation Without Power Modes
No Power modes
Battery life 47 days
Annoying!
Avg. Current 2.5 mA

10. Adopt New Modes Sleep during sensor acquisition
ADC runs in sleep
Use Idle mode when communicating to radio
UART active, shut down core & Flash
Sleep during radio transmission
No MCU activity required
Wait to ensure transmission successful
Deep Sleep rest of time
Use RTCC to wake up 1 sec. later

11. Battery-Life Estimation With Power Modes
Battery life is 1 year
800% Increase!
Current Reduced 10X
Sleeping for 1 minute increases to 2 years

12. Integrated Analog

13. Integrated Analog Peripherals
Easy Interface to Sensors
Debugged noise and communication
Designer gets consistent analog performance across applications
Benefits of Integration
Faster data path, reduced noise
Intelligent connections inside the chip
Simplify board designs, reduce board space
Lower-cost designs, faster time to market

14. Without Intelligent Analog
ADC signal shielding increases board size
Multiple power planes for analog & digital
Complex routing for signals and shields
Noise coupled from USB to ADC

15. With Intelligent Analog
Saved Board Area & Cost
Saved Board Area & Cost
Routing, shielding, power planes integrated & debugged in chip
ADC, DAC, OpAmp, USB all integrated to MCU, lowers cost & space
Design simplified, throughput increased

16. PIC24 “GC” Family 16-bit Sigma-Delta ADC 12-bit ADC 10-bit DACs
High dynamic range & high resolution
More information (3µV) eliminates need for amplifier
12-bit ADC
Ultra-high-speed data capture at 10 Msps
High-speed sensors, touch, communications
10-bit DACs
Analog control loops, stereo audio
Stimulus or thresholds
Operational Amplifiers
Analog control loops, Mic pre-amp, Signal conditioning
2.5 MHz Gain-Bandwidth, low power mode
Internal Analog Connection Switch Matrix
472-Segment LCD Driver with Voltage Boost

17. Easy Prototyping – Add Your Sensor
On-Board Sensors
Light
Temperature
Touch
Analog Header
Clean Analog Signals
Plugs Into Breadboards
Rich Display
Connectivity
USB OTG, Host & Device
RF Module Footprint
Integrated Debugger
PIC24F Intelligent Analog Starter Kit
Part Number: DM240015

18. Wireless Connection

19. Microchip Focus: Wireless Connectivity of Things
Home health and Medical
Smart Power/Energy
Industrial Control and Monitoring
Home Control and Monitoring
Embedded products: low power, low free resource host processors
Get on the network, transfer data, and get off
Communicate with other things or users via Internet 19

20. How to Connect?
Your Application!

21. Embedded Wireless Portfolio
Technology
Protocol
Markets
Market
Driver
Network Stack
Freq.
Embedded Wi-Fi®
IEEE
Widespread
Commercial Industrial
Internet
TCP/IP
2.4 GHz
Embedded Bluetooth®
IEEE
Smartphone
BT v2.1, BT Audio, BTLE
Embedded Wireless
Proprietary or IEEE
Vertical
HA, SEP, Sensors
Cost
Local Network
MiWi™, BT, ZigBee®, RF4CE,
Sub 1 GHz & 2.4 GHz

22. Microchip’s Bluetooth® Portfolio
16XX: Class Title
Microchip’s Bluetooth® Portfolio
RN41 / 41N
RN42 / RN42N
RN52
RN4020
Type
Class 1
Bluetooth® 2.1
Class 2
Bluetooth 2.1
Bluetooth 3.0
Bluetooth LE
Interfaces
UART / USB
Analog spk and mic,
i2S, SPDIF, PCM, UART
UART
Profiles
SPP / HID / iAP / HCI
A2DP / ARVCP / HSP / HFP / SPP / iAP
GATT, Health, Fitness, Proximity, etc.; Custom data
Power
3.3 VDC
Antenna
ceramic on board
PCB
Size
13.4 x 25.8 x 2.0
13.4 x 30 x 3.0
11.5 x 19.5 x2.0
Certification
BT SIG / FCC / CE / ICS

23. Microchip’s Wi-Fi® Modules
MRF24WB0MA
MRF24WB0MB
MRF24WG0MA
MRF24WG0MB
RN171
RN131C/G
Radio b
b/g
Tx Power
+10 dBm
+18 dBm
+12 dBm
Power Consumption
250 µA power save
85 mA Rx
150 max Tx
4 mA power save
95 mA Rx
240 max Tx
4 µA sleep
35 mA Rx
185 max Tx
40 mA Rx
200 max Tx
Antenna
u.FL / PCB
u.FL/PCB
RF pad
Chip/u.FL
Stack
On PIC® MCU
On PIC MCU
Integrated
MCU Support
8/16/32 bit
PIC MCUs
Any 8/16/32 bit
Certifications
FCC/IC/EN
Wi-Fi® Alliance
Wi-Fi Alliance
KC/NCC
KC/NCC/Telec 23 23

24. Microchip’s ZigBee® & MiWi™
IEEE
Sub-GHz
MRF24XA
Low power
MRF49XA
433/868/915
MRF24J40
MRF89XA
868/915/950
MRF24J40MA
+0dBm
MRF89XAM8A
868 MHz (EU)
MRF24J40MD
+20dBm, PCB Ant
MRF89XAM9A
915 MHz (US,CA)
MRF24J40MC
+20dBm, Ext Ant

25. Flexible Wireless Connection
Use the same MCU platform, as your wireless connectivity needs change
Easy to interface to any PIC® MCU
UART or SPI
Easy daughter board to expand your PIC MCU dev board ecosystem
Certified wireless modules
Speed development time
Faster product introduction

26. Secure Data

27. PIC24F “GB2” Family
PIC24F “GB2” MCUs for Protecting Data in Embedded Applications
Hardware crypto engine (Industry standard AES, DES, 3DES)
Random Number Generator (RNG)
One-Time-Programmable (OTP) Key Storage
eXtreme Low Power Extends Battery Life
18 nA Sleep, 200 µA/MHz Run
Enabling Integrity of Data without Sacrificing Power Consumption
Connection to USB or Wireless Protocols
Integrated USB 2.0 Device, Host, OTG
Easy Connection to Certified Modules for Wi-Fi®, ZigBee®, Sub-GHz, Bluetooth® LE

28. Integrated Crypto Engine
Hardware Crypto Engine
Industry Standards for AES, DES, 3DES
Encryption & Decryption & Authentication
Secure Data Transfer & Storage
Random Number Generator
Supporting True-Random and Pseudo-Random Numbers
Reach a Higher Level of Data Security
Reduces Possibility for Hacking
Secure Key Storage for Additional Protection
512 bits OTP Key Storage
Once Written, Keys cannot be Read or Overwritten by Software
Stores up to 4 AES Keys or 8 DES Keys
Advantage of a Hardware Crypto over Software Implementation
Less Software Overhead Frees Up CPU Bandwidth & Memory
Operate at a Lower CPU Frequency to Save Power
Another Example of Microchip’s Core Independent Peripherals

29. PIC24 “GB2” Block Diagram

30. Application Example: Remote Electronic Door Lock
Encryption for Security
Uses Crypto, RNG & Key Storage
User data is encrypted
Secure key storage
eXtreme Low Power
Low power extends battery life
Vbat with RTCC for battery backup
Access Options
Enter code manually via keypad
Magnetic keycard
Wirelessly via Smartphone
Bluetooth®
LE RN4020
Near Field Communication (NFC)
PIC24FJ128GB204
Magnetic Card
UART
MCU
Core
Hardware encryption/Secure Key storage
Digital I/O
Display Unit
Vbat
128KB
Flash
Key pad control (touch)
Power
CTMU
Interrupt
Door Latch
Motor Control Unit

31. PIC24F “GB2” MCU Family Low Power with Crypto Engine
Embedded Applications in the Internet-Connected World Demand Secure Data & Long Battery Life
PIC24F “GB2” for Secure Data Transfer & Storage
Hardware Crypto Engine
Random Number Generator & Secure Key Storage
PIC24F “GB2” for eXtreme Low Power
Longer battery life for portable applications
PIC24F “GB2” for Easy Connection
Integrated USB
Easy interface to certified Wi-Fi® or Bluetooth® LE modules

32. Summary

33. IoT Sensor Nodes Application Requirements
Low Power for Longest Possible Battery Life
Integrated Analog for Sensor Interface
Flexible Wireless Connection
Secure Data Transfer & Storage
Note: The Microchip name and logo, and PIC are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries. MiWi is a trademark of Microchip Technology Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective companies.