Abstract: An energy constrained device includes microcontroller and a transceiver to communicate on an RF network. An energy harvesting device harvests energy and an energy storage device stores the harvested energy for use in commissioning on the RF network to allow the energy constrained device to securely communicate on the RF network. The microcontroller performs a plurality of commissioning steps to accomplish the commissioning. Energy harvesting occurs between each of the commissioning steps. In one approach, after each commissioning step the integrated circuit is allowed to power down resulting in a brown out reset. Commissioning information is stored in non-volatile memory prior to powering down. In another approach, the integrated circuit enters a sleep mode between each of the commissioning steps in which machine state is maintained in RAM. The integrated circuit wakes up from the sleep mode after sufficient energy is harvested to complete a next commissioning step.

Abstract: Techniques for observing energy consumption of a target device using battery power in a target application are described. These techniques use a development board and associated development software to sense voltage and current for computation of actual power and energy consumption and battery life during product development. The techniques provide application developers with information useful for developing software that reduces microcontroller current and power consumption to extend battery-life of a target device in a target application, which reduces battery waste and reduces expenses associated with servicing a product including the target device. The techniques enable an integrated development environment that does not need expensive, external equipment to measure the power consumption of the target device when powered by a battery or other power source.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a current being supplied to a load includes a first pass transistor to couple a first sense resistance to the load when the first pass transistor is enabled and a second pass transistor to couple a second sense resistance to the load when the second pass transistor is enabled. An error amplifier determines a difference between a voltage being supplied to the load and a reference voltage and to supplies an error amplifier output signal according to the difference. A switch couples the error amplifier output signal to a gate of the first pass transistor or to a gate of the second pass transistor. Control logic controls the switch according to a value of the current being supplied to the load. The voltage being supplied to the load is controlled using the error amplifier output signal that is selectively coupled to the gate of the first pass transistor or the gate of the second pass transistor.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a current being supplied to a load includes a first pass transistor to couple a first sense resistance to the load when the first pass transistor is enabled and a second pass transistor to couple a second sense resistance to the load when the second pass transistor is enabled. An error amplifier determines a difference between a voltage being supplied to the load and a reference voltage and to supplies an error amplifier output signal according to the difference. A switch couples the error amplifier output signal to a gate of the first pass transistor or to a gate of the second pass transistor. Control logic controls the switch according to a value of the current being supplied to the load. The voltage being supplied to the load is controlled using the error amplifier output signal that is selectively coupled to the gate of the first pass transistor or the gate of the second pass transistor.