Application Note - EM850X Supply Outputs VSUP/VAUX/VAUX_GND Control

APPLICATION NOTE │EM8500
EM MICROELECTRONIC - MARIN SA
Subject to change without notice
608001, Version 1.0, 21-July-2015
Copyright @ 2015,
www.emmicroelectronic.com
SUPPLY OUTPUTS VSUP / VAUX / VAUX_GND CONTROL
Product Family:
EM850X
Part Number:
EM8500
Keywords:
Harvesting, Solar, TEG, MPPT, Configuration, Setup, Super capacitors, Secondary Battery, Primary
Battery, LDO
ABSTRACT
The EM8500 offers a NVM containing all the configuration
parameters. This document describes how to setup the
registers in NVM linked to the control of the supply outputs
VSUP, VAUX[2:0], VAUX_GND[2:0]:
•
Enable and disable the supply outputs
•
Configure direct or regulated supply outputs
•
Configure the sleep mode and wake-up system
•
Configure the supply outputs behavior in HRV_LOW
mode
ABBREVIATIONS
NVM
MCU
STS
LTS
HRV
TEG
BAT_LOW
HRV_LOW
VSUP
VAUX[i]
VAUX_GND[i]
ULP LDO
v_ulp_ldo
VAUX LDO
v_aux_ldo
Csup
Caux[i]
Sleep
v_apl_max_hi
v_apl_max_lo
v_bat_min_hi
v_bat_min_lo
Non-Volatile-Memory
Microcontroller Unit
Short term storage element (capacitor connected to VDD_STS)
Long term storage element (rechargeable battery connected to VDD_LTS)
Harvester, main source of energy (solar or TEG)
Thermal Electrical Generator
Flag indicating that the battery is in under-voltage condition
Flag indicating that the HRV is under the minimum power level (HRV low mode when at 1)
Main output supply for application
3 independent auxiliary supplies for application (i is in the range 0 to 2)
3 independent switches to ground (i is in the range 0 to 2)
LDO dedicated to VSUP
ULP LDO voltage level in [V]
LDO common to all VAUX[i]
VAUX LDO voltage level in [V]
Decoupling capacitor on VSUP
3 decoupling capacitors on VAUX[i] (i is in the range 0 to 2)
VSUP is disabled when the sleep mode is active
Absolute maximum application voltage
Maximum voltage of the application, form an hysteresis with v_apl_max_hi
Minimum battery and application voltage define by v_bat_min_hi_dis when STS and LTS are
disconnected; otherwise it is defined by v_bat_min_hi_con. It forms an hysteresis with
v_bat_min_lo.
Absolute minimum value of the battery and the application
1
APPLICATION NOTE Ɩ EM8500
Subject to change without notice
608001, Version 1.0, 21-July-2015
Copyright @ 2015,
www.emmicroelectronic.com
1
SCOPE
The EM8500 generates 4 supply outputs for external application:

VSUP: main supply output, used usually to supply the main MCU
o
Can be directly connected to VDD_STS or regulated by ULP_LDO
o
Can be configured to be disabled in HRV_LOW mode
o
Can be disabled (sleep mode) for a predefine duration
o
Wake-up pin can force VSUP out of sleep mode
o
Can be configured to be tied to ground or floating when disabled

VAUX[i]: 3 independent supply outputs for peripherals such as RF transmitters, sensors etc...
o
Can be directly connected to VDD_STS or regulated independently by VAUX LDO
o
Can be configured to be disabled in HRV_LOW mode independently
o
Can be disabled / enabled independently
o
Can be configured to be tied to ground or floating when disabled independently

VAUX_GND[i]: 3 independents switches to ground
o
Can cut the ground of a peripheral; for instance to avoid current leakage through the pull-up of an I2C line
o
Can be disabled / enabled independently
The following registers are involved for that action:
Register name
Address Description
reg_ldo_cfg
reg_pwr_cfg
reg_vaux_cfg
reg_vaux_gnd_cfg
0x0E
vsup_tied_low:
In sleep mode VSUP is connected to ground if vsup_tied_low = ‘1’
In sleep mode VSUP is floating if vsup_tied_low = ‘0’
v_vaux_ldo[2:0]: Regulation level of VAUX LDO
frc_ulp_ldo: VSUP is always regulated by ULP_LDO when enabled
v_ulp_ldo[2:0]: Regulation level of ULP_LDO
0x0F
dis_vaux_gnd[i]_hrv_low: VAUX_GND[i] is disabled in HRV_LOW mode
when at ‘1’
dis_vaux[i]_hrv_low: VAUX[i] is disabled in HRV_LOW mode when at ‘1’
dis_vsup_hrv_low: VSUP is disabled in HRV_LOW mode when at ‘1’
0x10
vaux[i]_cfg[1:0]:
When “00”: Configure VAUX[i] to be connected to VDD_STS when enabled
When “01”: Configure VAUX[i] to be connected to VAUX LDO when
enabled
When “10”: Configure VAUX[i] to be connected to VAUX LDO only when
VDD_STS is above v_apl_max_hi, VAUX[i] is floating when
disabled
When “11”: Configure VAUX[i] to be connected to VAUX LDO only when
VDD_STS is above v_apl_max_hi, VAUX[i] is connected to
ground when disabled
0x11
vaux_gnd[i]_cfg:
When ‘0’: Configure VAUX_GND[i] to be always connected to ground when
enabled
When ‘1’: Configure VAUX_GND[i] to be connected to ground only when
enabled and VDD_STS is lower than v_apl_max_hi
2
APPLICATION NOTE Ɩ EM8500
Subject to change without notice
608001, Version 1.0, 21-July-2015
Copyright @ 2015,
www.emmicroelectronic.com
Register name
Address
Description
reg_ext_cfg
0x13
wake_up_deb_en: debouncer is connected to the pin wake-up when at ‘1’
wake_up_edge_cfg[1:0]:
When “00”: wake-up pin is sensitive to no edge (wake-up disabled)
When “01”: wake-up pin is sensitive to the falling edge
When “10”: wake-up pin is sensitive to the rising edge
When “11”: wake-up pin is sensitive to the falling and the rising edges
reg_t_sleep_vsup_lo
0x14
reg_t_sleep_vsup_mid
0x15
reg_t_sleep_vsup_hi
0x16
reg_pwr_mgt
0x19
Sleep wake-up counter duration coded over 3 bytes:
reg_t_sleep_vsup[23:0] = reg_t_sleep_vsup_hi & reg_t_sleep_vsup_mid &
reg_t_sleep_vsup_lo
frc_prim_dcdc_dis: force the EM8500 DCDC off when at ‘1’
vaux_gnd[i]_en: connects VAUX_GND[i] to ground when at ‘1’
vaux[i]_en: enable VAUX supply when at ‘1’
sleep_vsup: set VSUP in sleep mode when at ‘1’
Table 1: List of Registers Related to Supply Outputs Control
The default value after reset or start-up of the registers listed in
8
is contained in a NVM memory at the following related addresses:
Register name
Register
Related address in NVM
Address
eeprom14
0x4E
reg_ldo_cfg
0x0E
reg_pwr_cfg
0x0F
eeprom15
0x4F
reg_vaux_cfg
0x10
eeprom16
0x50
reg_vaux_gnd_cfg
0x11
eeprom17
0x51
reg_ext_cfg
0x13
eeprom19
0x53
reg_t_sleep_vsup_lo
0x14
eeprom20
0x54
reg_t_sleep_vsup_mid
0x15
eeprom21
0x55
reg_t_sleep_vsup_hi
0x16
eeprom22
0x56
reg_pwr_mgt
0x19
eeprom25
0x59
Table 2: Relation between Register and Corresponding NVM Address
Note: offset between the register addresses and related address in NVM is 0x40
3
APPLICATION NOTE Ɩ EM8500
Subject to change without notice
608001, Version 1.0, 21-July-2015
Copyright @ 2015,
www.emmicroelectronic.com
2
VSUP SETTINGS
VSUP is the main supply output used to supply the main MCU of the application. VSUP is enabled by default and,
with one exception, cannot be permanently disabled. The user can set VSUP in sleep mode; this action disables
VSUP for a predefined duration to reduce the consumption of the system as much as possible. The pin wake-up
stops the sleep mode at any time.
It is possible to permanently disable VSUP only in HRV_LOW mode. But we strongly advise never to use this
option; the system can enter into a dead lock.
The voltage VDD_STS supplies VSUP directly or through the ULP LDO. The ULP LDO ensures that VSUP never
rises above v_apl_max_hi. The user can force the ULP LDO even if VDD_STS is lower than v_apl_max_hi.
2.1
VSUP enable conditions
The EM8500 enables VSUP as soon as VDD_STS rises above v_bat_min_hi and disables VSUP when
VDD_STS falls below v_bat_min_lo.
Figure 1: VSUP Enable Condition Dependence on VDD_STS
The following conditions also disable VSUP:

In “VSUP sleep mode”, when the bit register reg_pwr_mgt.sleep_vsup is set to ‘1’

The bit register reg_pwr_cfg.dis_vsup_hrv_low is set to ‘1’ and the EM8500 in HRV_LOW mode
2.2
VSUP disabled
If the register reg_ldo_cfg.vsup_tied_low = ‘1’, the EM8500 connects VSUP to the ground in disabled state,
otherwise VSUP is floating in disabled state.
As shown in chapter 2.1, VSUP is disabled when reg_pwr_cfg.dis_vsup_hrv_low is set to ‘1’ and the EM8500 in
HRV_LOW mode. This register shall be carefully handled, when it is at ‘1’ it is not possible to recover the supply
output VSUP as long as there is no energy from the harvester. We strongly advise never to set
reg_pwr_cfg.dis_vsup_hrv_low to ‘1’.
2.3
VSUP sleep mode
When the bit register reg_pwr_mgt.sleep_vsup is set to ‘1’, the EM8500 enters in “VSUP sleep mode” and disables
VSUP and thus stops supplying the main application MCU. In such mode, a counter automatically starts and
restores VSUP only when it reaches the value t_sleep_vsup set in the register reg_t_sleep_vsup[23:0]. This
register is a concatenation of the 3 registers reg_t_sleep_vsup_hi & reg_t_sleep_vsup_mid & reg_t_sleep_vsup_lo:
reg_t_sleep_vsup23:0  t _ sleep _ v sups1000
Equation 1: t_sleep_vsup Calculation
The maximum t_sleep_vsup duration is 0xFFFFFF * 1ms ≈ 4h 39min 37s.
4
APPLICATION NOTE Ɩ EM8500
Subject to change without notice
608001, Version 1.0, 21-July-2015
Copyright @ 2015,
www.emmicroelectronic.com
2.4
Wake-up pin
The pin WAKE_UP restores VSUP from sleep mode and resets the sleep counter. It is possible to select on which
edge the pin WAKE_UP is sensitive with the register reg_ext_cfg.wake_up_edge_cfg[1:0] as follows:
reg_ext_cfg.wake_up_edge_cfg[1:0]
wake-up edge selection
00
No edge (wake-up pin disabled)
01
Falling edge
10
Rising edge
11
Both edges
Table 3: WAKE_UP Edge Selection
The bit register reg_ext_cfg.wake_up_deb_en enables a debouncer on the pin WAKE_UP when it is at ‘1’. The
state of WAKE_UP shall be stable during at least 171ms to take effect. If the debouncer is disabled, the latency of
the pin WAKE_UP is 1us on the rising edge and 100us on the falling edge.
2.5
ULP LDO
The level v_apl_max_hi is the maximum value the application can afford. If VDD_STS rises above this level, the
EM8500 disconnects VSUP from VDD_STS and enables the ULP LDO to regulate VSUP. To reduce the noise on
VSUP or to get a stable DC voltage on VSUP, it is possible to force VSUP to always be connected to the ULP
LDO. When the register reg_ldo_cfg.frc_ulp_ldo = ‘1’, ULP LDO always regulates VSUP when it is enabled.
The register reg_ldo_cfg.v_ulp_ldo[2:0] selects the ULP LDO voltage level v_ulp_ldo as follows:
reg_ldo_cfg.v_ulp_ldo[2:0]
v_ulp_ldo [V]
000
1.2
001
1.55
010
1.65
011
1.8
100
2
101
2.2
110
2.4
111
2.6
Table 4: ULP LDO Voltage Level Selection
2.6
VSUP output capability
When VSUP is connected to VDD_STS, the connection through the switch has a typical resistor of 7.4Ohm.
The VSUP LDO has an output capability of 10mA at a maximum drop of 100mV.
5
APPLICATION NOTE Ɩ EM8500
Subject to change without notice
608001, Version 1.0, 21-July-2015
Copyright @ 2015,
www.emmicroelectronic.com
3
VAUX SETTINGS
VAUX[2:0] are 3 independent supply outputs. They usually supply peripherals such as RF transmitter, sensors
etc… The user can set each of them independently to be disabled, connected to VDD_STS or regulated by the
common VAUX LDO.
3.1
VAUX enable conditions
The user can enable any VAUX[i] as soon as VDD_STS rises above v_bat_min_hi. The EM8500 disables all
VAUX[2:0] when VDD_STS falls below v_bat_min_lo.

Setting the register reg_pwr_mgt.vaux0_en to ‘1’ enables VAUX[0]

Setting the register reg_pwr_mgt.vaux1_en to ‘1’ enables VAUX[1]
 Setting the register reg_pwr_mgt.vaux2_en to ‘1’ enables VAUX[2]
Each VAUX[i] can be configured independently with the register reg_vaux_cfg.vaux[i]_cfg[1:0] as follows:
v_ulp_ldo [V]
reg_vaux_cfg.vaux[i]_cfg[1:0]
00
Connect VAUX[i] to VDD_STS when enabled
01
Connects VAUX[i] to VAUX LDO when enabled
10
Connect VAUX[i] automatically to VAUX LDO when VDD_STS is above
v_apl_max_hi, VAUX[i] is floating when disabled
11
Configure VAUX[i] to be connected to VAUX LDO only when VDD_STS is
above v_apl_max_hi, VAUX[i] is connected to ground when disabled
Table 5: VAUX[i] Configuration
When the register reg_pwr_cfg.dis_vaux[i]_hrv_low = ‘1’, the related VAUX[i] is automatically disabled when the
EM8500 is in HRV_LOW mode.
3.2
VAUX LDO
Unlike VSUP, VAUX can be connected to VDD_STS even if VDD_STS is above v_apl_max_hi as defined in Table
5. The VAUX LDO is common to all VAUX[2:0], but each VAUX[i] can be independently connected to VAUX LDO.
The register reg_ldo_cfg.v_vaux_ldo[2:0] selects the VAUX LDO voltage level v_aux_ldo as follows:
reg_ldo_cfg.v_vaux_ldo[2:0]
v_aux_ldo [V]
000
1.2
001
1.55
010
1.65
011
1.8
100
2
101
2.2
110
2.4
111
2.6
Table 6: VAUX LDO Voltage Level Selection
6
APPLICATION NOTE Ɩ EM8500
Subject to change without notice
608001, Version 1.0, 21-July-2015
Copyright @ 2015,
www.emmicroelectronic.com
4
VAUX_GND SETTINGS
When VAUX[i] supplies a peripheral it could be necessary to cut the connection to the ground of that peripheral
when VAUX[i] is disabled. In particular, if VSUP communicates with that peripheral through an I2C interface, it
avoids drawing a current from the pull-up resistor into the peripheral.
Figure 2: Peripheral Supplied Through IO Protection Diodes
In the Figure 2, if VAUX_GND is connected to the ground, the peripheral is supplied through the pull-up and the
positive protection diode of IO pad, when VAUX is disabled. If VAUX_GND is disabled, no current can flow through
that path.
4.1
VAUX_GND enable conditions
The user can enable any VAUX_GND[i] as soon as VDD_STS rises above v_bat_min_hi. The EM8500 disables
all VAUX_GND[2:0] when VDD_STS falls below v_bat_min_lo.

Setting the register reg_pwr_mgt.vaux_gnd0_en to ‘1’ connects VAUX_GND[0] to VSS

Setting the register reg_pwr_mgt.vaux_gnd1_en to ‘1’ connects VAUX_GND[1] to VSS
 Setting the register reg_pwr_mgt.vaux_gnd2_en to ‘1’ connects VAUX_GND[2] to VSS
Each VAUX_GND[i] can be configured independently with the register reg_vaux_gnd_cfg.vaux_gnd[i]_cfg as follows:
reg_vaux_gnd_cfg.vaux_gnd[i]_cfg
v_ulp_ldo [V]
0
Connect VAUX_GND[i] to ground even if VDD_STS is above
v_apl_max_hi when enabled
1
Disconnect VAUX_GND[i] when VDD_STS is above v_apl_max_hi
when enabled
Table 7: VAUX_GND[i] Configuration
When the register reg_pwr_cfg.dis_vaux_gnd[i]_hrv_low = ‘1’, the related VAUX_GND[i] is automatically disabled
when the EM8500 is in HRV_LOW mode.
7
APPLICATION NOTE Ɩ EM8500
Subject to change without notice
608001, Version 1.0, 21-July-2015
Copyright @ 2015,
www.emmicroelectronic.com
5
NOISE REDUCTION
The EM8500 DCDC generates noise that can disturb sensitive devices such as sensors. Setting the register
reg_pwr_mgr.frc_prim_dcdc_dis to ‘1’ will stop the DCDC conversion.
If VDD_STS falls below v_bat_min_hi, the register reg_pwr_mgr.frc_prim_dcdc_dis is automatically reset to ‘0’,
thus the DCDC is reactivated.
8
APPLICATION NOTE Ɩ EM8500
Subject to change without notice
608001, Version 1.0, 21-July-2015
Copyright @ 2015,
www.emmicroelectronic.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
2
Scope............................................................................................................................... 2
VSUP settings .................................................................................................................. 4
2.1 VSUP enable conditions ............................................................................................ 4
2.2 VSUP disabled ........................................................................................................... 4
2.3 VSUP sleep mode...................................................................................................... 4
2.4 Wake-up pin ............................................................................................................... 5
2.5 ULP LDO ................................................................................................................... 5
2.6 VSUP output capability .............................................................................................. 5
3 VAUX settings .................................................................................................................. 6
3.1 VAUX enable conditions ............................................................................................ 6
3.2 VAUX LDO ................................................................................................................. 6
4 VAUX_GND settings ........................................................................................................ 7
4.1 VAUX_GND enable conditions .................................................................................. 7
5 Noise reduction ................................................................................................................ 8
9
APPLICATION NOTE Ɩ EM8500
Subject to change without notice
608001, Version 1.0, 21-July-2015
Copyright @ 2015,
www.emmicroelectronic.com
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: List of Registers Related to Supply Outputs Control ......................................................................................3
Table 2: Relation between Register and Corresponding NVM Address ......................................................................3
Table 3: WAKE_UP Edge Selection .............................................................................................................................5
Table 4: ULP LDO Voltage Level Selection ..................................................................................................................5
Table 5: VAUX[i] Configuration .....................................................................................................................................6
Table 6: VAUX LDO Voltage Level Selection ...............................................................................................................6
Table 7: VAUX_GND[i] Configuration ...........................................................................................................................7
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: VSUP Enable Condition Dependence on VDD_STS ............................................................................. 4
Figure 2: Peripheral Supplied Through IO Protection Diodes ............................................................................... 7
LIST OF EQUATIONS
Equation 1: t_sleep_vsup Calculation ................................................................................................................... 4
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