Next-Gen IoT Performance Depends on Advanced Power Management ICs

The rise of Internet of Things (IoT) applications is a key integrated circuit (IC) market driver. As these internet-connected technologies become increasingly smaller, complex, and energy-intensive, advanced power management ICs are exponentially important. Factoring in potential energy reliability issues due to heightened demand emphasizes this situation’s urgency. 

Thanks to its convenience and affordability, the IoT is quickly becoming a staple in industrial, medical, and technology spaces. Since demand is so high, research and development are flourishing. However, progress may soon stall unless professionals leverage advanced power management integrated circuit (PMIC) design to handle variable input and regulate voltage.

Why Next-Generation IoT Needs Advanced PMICs

Billions of connected devices are embedded in structures worldwide, deployed in remote locations, and implanted within humans. As trends like miniaturization and extended operating years emerge, one thing becomes clear — their promise of seamless automation and streamlined data aggregation hinges on effective power management ICs.

A power consumption profile is the most important aspect of the “fit-and-forget” design approach for IoT technologies. Companies install these nodes in places where distance and isolation limit direct physical access and impede continuous power availability. 

Batteries are the prevailing solution because they ensure long-lasting stability with minimal maintenance. However, emerging trends are diminishing their longevity. A multistage discharge battery with a total capacity of 17.4 ampere-hours and an average operating voltage of 3.78 volts consumes approximately 11.8 milliampere-hours daily. It can continue operation for up to four years before complete discharge. 

While a four-year expected lifespan is good, it is not ideal in industrial, medical, or edge applications. Moreover, it poses a logistical problem. Replacing the batteries in thousands or millions of internet-connected nodes every few years is costly and impractical. The entire premise of the IoT is long-lasting, low-maintenance remote connectivity. 

Traditional power management solutions typically require a complex hardware setup for power sequencing and voltage regulation. Conversely, PMIC design integrates sophisticated control functions into a single-chip solution, optimizing energy efficiency, lengthening battery life, and reducing electricity consumption. It is essential for next-generation IoT technology. 

PMIC Design Solutions Fit for Next-Generation IoT 

These advanced power management IC designs are fit for next-generation IoT technologies.

1. Energy Harvesting 

Energy harvesting (EH) components convert ambient energy from photovoltaic, thermoelectric, radio-frequency, mechanical, or kinetic energy sources into electrical power. PMICs purpose-built for EH applications are designed to handle variable input, protect the power storage element, and regulate voltage, transforming how low-power electronics function. 

2. Multisource Harvesting 

Multisource harvesting is a relatively recent development. It utilizes specialized power management ICs that simultaneously combine and manage energy from several ambient sources. Engineers optimize these PMICs for specific EH hardware to act independently, increasing their resilience in dynamic or extreme environments. 

This advanced design solution could allow professionals to integrate connected IoT networks into new areas without worrying about battery life. Reducing deployment and maintenance expenses allows them to take greater risks during research and development, which could lead to technological breakthroughs.

3. Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling

Dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) has become a common power reduction technique in IC design. It scales voltage and frequency based on predetermined performance targets, making it one of the only effective techniques for dynamic and static power. 

DVFS is very effective in reducing energy usage. For reference, it can improve dynamic power by up to 70%, helping IoT batteries last longer. Modern PMICs leverage this solution to optimize battery consumption in real time. Since it adjusts based on the workload, lowering the voltage when full power is unnecessary, it can save energy and reduce heat. 

4. Cold-Start Function

A cold-start input condition enables manufacturers to produce battery-less products based on supercapacitors. Hardware that can self-start from the available ambient energy reduces its need to obtain new resources. This is ideal because experts predict the world will run out of raw materials to meet battery production demand. 

A cold-start function can eliminate battery replacement requirements for end users, lowering maintenance costs. Also, it enhances adaptability to different EH scenarios. Both these factors expand deployment options. 

5. Maximum Power Point Tracking 

A maximum power point (MPP) tracking solution for multisource harvesting leverages multiple independent algorithms and power management ICs. Each dynamically adjusts the IoT device’s electrical operating point to ensure it works as close to the MPP as possible, thus improving EH efficiency. 

Constraints of Integrating Power Management ICs

Utilizing advanced power management IC design offers many benefits — optimized energy consumption, extended battery life, and simplified component maintenance, regardless of the IoT network’s distance or complexity. Of course, integration isn’t all positive. Like with most technologies, there are various technical and financial hurdles to overcome.

Even though leveraging advanced PMIC solutions offers heightened efficiency, decision-makers must be able to justify costs. Generally, seeking slower turnaround times reduces expenses without compromising component quality because cost and lead time positively correlate. If they strategically schedule orders, they can lower their total cost of ownership. 

Size is another consideration, particularly for energy harvesting applications where engineers must fit the circuitry, harvester, PMIC, and power storage components into the product form factor. Experts project the miniaturized electronics market will reach $66.57 billion in 2028, up from $42.75 billion in 2023. The main drivers of this trend are semiconductor advancements, EH, and bioelectronics. 

Size may not be a major concern for end users, but it is worth considering during product selection. It could complicate PMIC design, which may delay future advancements in the internet-enabled electronics field. With technical complexity increasing and miniaturization on the rise, speed and creativity are key.

The last major constraint facing professionals is the energy consumption of the PMIC itself. Despite playing a crucial role in control, it is often an afterthought. Ultra-low power management ICs are essential for minimizing electricity usage. This way, they can drastically extend IoT nodes’ operational lifespans, even with limited energy sources. 

The Future of PMIC Solutions in IoT Technology

Power management ICs ensure device longevity, enabling consistent data generation and processing in time-sensitive, high-risk medical, industrial, and edge applications. The future implications of PMIC design in IoT are clear. Increased integration will shape the future of power source selection and deployment location. 

Advanced solutions like multisource harvesting, DVFS, and MPP tracking algorithms may not be industry staples, but they will become increasingly important as the next generation of IoT technology gains prominence. These components could completely transform how professionals approach long-term energy control and management within the decade.