Single-chip power monitor targets FPGA, GPU circuits

Managing and reducing power consumption is crucial in low-voltage, high-power applications such as Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and embedded computing devices. These devices must first accurately measure power before they can manageit, but precision power measurement solutions are often costly and require multiple ICs or power configurations to measure different rails.

To meet these needs, Microchip Technology Inc. today introduced new two- and three-channel power monitoring devices that measure from 0V to 32V on a single chip, offering designers solutions that are easy to adopt and improve power measurement accuracy. The two-channel device is also the industry’s first with native 16-bit resolution, providing leading flexibility across a wide measurement range.

The PAC1932/33 devices include precisely what is needed to measure power on a single Integrated Circuit (IC), integrating multiple channels in a single package for applications such as Point of Sale (POS) systems, ATMs and building automation. This reduces costs for system designers while also consolidating their Bill of Materials (BOM), as the measurement of sub 1V to 20V voltage rails normally require separate components to measure each rail efficiently. The devices’ ability to measure voltage rails under 1V to as high as 32V also relieves developers from having to reconfigure measurement resolution between low and high current load events.

As the industry’s only two-channel device with 16-bit power measurement, the PAC1932 can measure without host intervention for 17 minutes, relieving developers from adjusting voltage or current range to measure power and energy. The devices include two 16-bit Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) that can measure voltage and current simultaneously, enabling developers to extract a true power measurement. As a result, developers can better design systems to efficiently save power.

“As applications continue to seek ways to reduce power consumption, precision DC power measurement has grown as a key element for energy savings,” said Bryan Liddiard, vice president of Microchip’s Mixed Signal and Linear Division. “Just as the four-channel PAC1934 improved power measurement for Windows 10 devices, the new two- and three-channel power monitoring ICs offer improved power measurement for low-voltage, high-power applications in markets such as embedded computing and networking.”