A precision power and energy monitoring chip works in conjunction with a software driver that is fully compatible with the Energy Estimation Engine (E3) built into the Windows 10 operating system to provide 99% accuracy on all Windows 10 devices that have batteries.
Developed by Microchip Technology, the PAC1934 and Windows 10 driver can improve the measurement of battery usage from different software applications by up to 29%. “With its wide measurement range, Microchip’s PAC1934 can measure power of the display, CPU, storage, network, total and other system components with high accuracy,” said Jessie Labayen, principal program manager at Microsoft. “This is a significant enhancement to the Windows 10 Energy Estimation Engine’s software estimation and it is a big step forward for system providers and everyday consumers.”
The PAC1934 is designed to measure voltage rails down to 0 V and as high as 32 V. It is this ability that allows the chip to accurately measure power use from simple Core Processing Unit (CPU) tasks all the way up to software running on devices that connect through a USB Type-C connector. The PAC1934 is a four-channel device with 16-bit power measurement and a 17-minute-plus accumulation register, making it a candidate for determining power consumption and energy usage without the need for voltage or current range adjustments.
The device has capabilities that could also make it an integral part in future software upgrades. Through bidirectional measurement -— meaning it has the ability to measure both battery charging and battery discharge -— it is well suited for upcoming USB Type-C charging topologies. In addition, the device functions as a standard high-side current sensor for use in server, networking, automotive and industrial applications. Microchip is also actively working to support the PAC1934 in Linux for various applications.
The PAC1934 power monitoring IC (catalog part no. PAC11934T-I/J6CX) is available now for sampling and in volume production starting at $1.22 each in 10,000 unit quantities. An evaluation board (part no. ADM00805) is available and costs $60.
More info: http://www.microchipdirect.com/
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