How can you compare microcontroller power consumption?

1 Power consumption factors

The first step to compare microcontroller power consumption is to understand the factors that affect it. These include the operating voltage, frequency, current, and mode of the microcontroller, as well as the external components and peripherals connected to it. For example, a higher operating voltage or frequency will increase the power consumption, while a lower current or a sleep mode will reduce it. Similarly, the power consumption of the microcontroller will depend on the type and number of sensors, LEDs, transceivers, and other devices that are attached to its pins.

3 Power consumption measurement

The third step is to measure the power consumption of the microcontroller using a suitable instrument, such as a multimeter, an oscilloscope, or a power analyzer. The measurement should be done under realistic conditions, simulating the actual workload and environment of the microcontroller. For example, you can use a development board, a breadboard, or a prototype circuit to connect the microcontroller to the external components and peripherals, and run a test program that mimics the intended functionality of the microcontroller. Then, you can measure the voltage and current across the microcontroller or the power supply, and calculate the power using the formula P = V x I.

5 Power consumption optimization

To optimize the power consumption of the microcontroller, you can modify the hardware or software design. Consider choosing a microcontroller with a lower operating voltage, frequency, or current, or with a more efficient architecture or instruction set. Additionally, select external components and peripherals with lower power consumption or with power-saving features. You can also adjust the operating voltage, frequency, or current of the microcontroller according to the workload or battery level. Furthermore, use low-power modes and interrupts to put the microcontroller to sleep or wake it up when needed, and disable or enable the internal circuits and peripherals accordingly. Finally, write efficient and compact code that minimizes the number of instructions, loops, variables, and functions and utilizes power-saving libraries and commands.