Measuring power consumption of circuit component operating in ultra-low power mode
First Claim
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1. A method of obtaining measurement data for a circuit component, the method comprising:
- charging a capacitor to a voltage level using a power system of the circuit component;
disconnecting, by a control logic that is distinct from the circuit component, the power system of the circuit component, and enabling the capacitor to discharge and to power the circuit component;
responsive to the enabling,starting a counter;
stopping the counter when the capacitor has discharged to a trip voltage; and
obtaining measurement data for the circuit component, comprising obtaining, using a value measured by the counter, a discharge time of the capacitor.
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Abstract
By powering an electronic component operating in an ultra-low power mode from a pre-charged measuring capacitor and measuring the time to discharge the capacitor to a trip voltage level, measurement data can be obtained. In some implementations, the capacitance of the capacitor can be obtained by adding a known current to the unknown current drawn from the capacitor and calculating the capacitance using a mathematical formula.
21 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of obtaining measurement data for a circuit component, the method comprising:
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charging a capacitor to a voltage level using a power system of the circuit component; disconnecting, by a control logic that is distinct from the circuit component, the power system of the circuit component, and enabling the capacitor to discharge and to power the circuit component; responsive to the enabling, starting a counter; stopping the counter when the capacitor has discharged to a trip voltage; and obtaining measurement data for the circuit component, comprising obtaining, using a value measured by the counter, a discharge time of the capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A circuit for obtaining measurement data from a circuit component, comprising:
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a capacitor coupled to a power system of the circuit component; control logic distinct from the circuit component and configured to disconnect the power system of the circuit component to enable the capacitor to discharge and to power the circuit component; and a counter coupled to the control logic and configured to determine a discharge period. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification