Lower power and increased battery life for IoT and wearable applications

By employing the MAX14720 power management integrated circuit (PMIC), from Maxim Integrated Products, designers can optimize power and battery life for wearable medical / fitness and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

Increasing battery life and achieving low power are common challenges faced by engineers when developing wearable and IoT products. The MAX14720 PMIC is ideal for non-rechargeable battery (coin cell, dual alkaline) applications where size and energy efficiency are critical. In addition, an electronic battery seal extends shelf life by effectively disconnecting the battery prior to initial power-up. Integrating the functionality of five discrete devices - power switch, linear regulator, buck regulator, buck-boost regulator, and monitor - the MAX14720 reduces the bill of materials (BOM) and allows for much smaller form factor designs, says the company.

“In 2020, 190 million wearable electronic devices for fitness and health will be sold, generating $14.4 billion in revenue1,” according to Gartner. Angela McIntyre, research director and Michele Reitz, principal research analyst, Gartner, said, “system design for wearables will remain fairly straightforward, employing basic microcontroller unit (MCU)-based processing, BT and Wi-Fi communications, and accelerometer and gyro sensor chips, with display drivers, optoelectronics, USB charging interfaces, small NOR memory and power regulator chips playing major roles in many wearable designs.”

Key Advantages ;

• Lower power: While most battery PMICs operate from 3V, the MAX14720 runs from a primary cell and operates down to 1.8V.
• Extended battery life: Low quiescent current IP is critical for wearable applications because it can extend the runtime of the system significantly.
• Longer product shelf life: An electronic battery seal offers extended storage life and allows for a fully sealed housing.
• Flexible operation and system diagnostics: Value added features such as push button input monitoring, power-up sequencing, and voltage rail monitoring further reduce BOM cost and space.

“Maxim has a strong position in the rechargeable wearables market,” said Frank Dowling, executive business manager, Maxim Integrated. “As a result, we have leveraged our expertise and IP for the non-rechargeable wearables market.”