Tech Note: How Can I Extend My Application’s Battery Life without Sacrificing Performance?

How Can I Extend My Application’s Battery Life without Sacrificing Performance?
Silicon Labs’ SiM3L1xx ultra-low-power 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) devices integrate a dc-dc buck
converter that can reduce a system’s entire current consumption by up to 40 percent without sacrificing
performance. Decreased power consumption results in longer battery life, and, in some cases, enables
the use of a smaller, less expensive battery. Traditional MCUs perform the voltage conversion with
inefficient linear regulators, which waste energy and create excess heat. The following example
compares a traditional MCU using a low drop-out (LDO) regulator to the SiM3L1xx MCU using the on-chip
dc-dc converter.
In this example, the dc-dc converter is used to power the SiM3L1xx 32-bit microcontroller as well as the
external radio frequency (RF) transceiver at 1.8 V. By powering both components with the dc-dc
converter, the application can use the high efficiency conversion and decrease overall current
consumption from the battery from 23 mA to 13.5 mA. The dc-dc converter also enables battery flexibility,
supporting a wide input voltage range from 1.8 V to 3.8 V. For any application with stringent battery life
requirements, the high-efficiency dc-dc converter provides a flexible, easy-to-use and power-saving
solution.
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Silicon Labs invests in research and development to help our customers differentiate in the market with innovative low-power, small
size, analog intensive mixed-signal solutions. Silicon Labs' extensive patent portfolio is a testament to our unique approach and
world-class engineering team. Patent: www.silabs.com/patent-notice
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