Power Management: A Win-Win for Efficiency and Security

Power management is the process of efficiently allocating power to different system components. It is particularly critical in mobile devices that rely on battery power, where by reducing the energy consumption of components in idle states, power management systems can extend battery life by two to three times. Power management technology is an important branch in the field of power electronics. It integrates multi-disciplinary technologies such as power conversion, modern electronics, network construction and automatic control. It is widely used in industry, energy, transportation, information, aviation, national defense, education, culture, etc. Many fields.

With the increasing scarcity of global resources and the rise of energy-saving awareness, scientific researchers continue to work hard to promote the development of energy-saving. Power management technology is a key area that emerges in this context. With the continuous advancement of digital technology and integrated circuit technology, as well as the advancement of the times and the development of science and technology, we pursue the portability, miniaturization and multi-function of equipment. These trends have promoted the continuous development of power management technology.

This article will introduce the concept, classification and working methods of power management in detail to help readers gain a deeper understanding of this important area.

01. Concept and importance of power management

Power management is a key technology that involves how to efficiently distribute power to different components of a system. Power management is critical for mobile devices that rely on battery power, such as cell phones and laptops. By reducing the energy consumption of components in idle states, an excellent power management system can extend the life of the battery by 2 to 3 times. Power management technology belongs to the field of power electronics technology. It integrates multiple disciplines such as power conversion, modern electronics, network construction, and automatic control. It is widely used in various fields such as industry, transportation, information and communications, aerospace, national defense, education, and culture.

02. The development history of power management

The development of power management technology can be traced back to the 1940s, when the transistor was introduced. As transistor technology matures, thyristors, which are the basis of power management technology, also come out, paving the way for the development of power management technology. In 1979, the invention of the power field effect transistor (MOSFET) further promoted the progress of power management technology. In 1986, high-voltage integrated circuits (HVTC) began to appear, marking the debut of power integrated circuits and ushering in a new era of power management. Since then, power management technology has developed rapidly and has become an indispensable and important part of production and life.

03. Classification and working methods of power management

In a sense, "power semiconductors" are also called "power management semiconductors" because power technology involves a large number of integrated circuits, so people generally refer to these technologies collectively as "power management".

Power management semiconductors can be divided into two parts: power management integrated circuits and power management discrete semiconductor devices.

Power management integrated circuits can be further divided into two categories: voltage regulators and interface circuits. Voltage regulators include linear low-dropout regulators (LDO) and positive and negative output series circuits, as well as pulse-width modulation (PWM) switching circuits. With the continuous development of technology, the size of digital circuits in integrated circuit chips is gradually reduced, and the operating power supply voltage is gradually reduced. Therefore, a series of new voltage regulators have emerged. Interface circuits mainly include interface drivers, motor drivers, power field effect transistor (MOSFET) drivers, and high-voltage/high-current display drivers.

Discrete semiconductor devices for power management include rectifiers, thyristors, triode power bipolar transistors, MOS structure power field effect transistors (MOSFETs), insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), etc.

04. Classification of power management integrated circuits

There are many different types of power management integrated circuits (ICs), including:

1. AC/DC modulation IC: used in low-voltage control circuits and high-voltage switching transistors.

2. DC/DC modulation IC: including boost/buck regulator and charge pump.

3. Power factor control PFC pre-modulation IC: used in power input circuits with power factor correction function.

4. Pulse modulation PWM/PFM control IC: used for pulse frequency modulation and/or pulse width modulation control to drive external switches.

5. Linear modulation IC (such as linear low voltage drop regulator LDO): including positive and negative regulators and low voltage drop LDO modulation tubes.

6. Battery charging and management IC: used for battery charging, protection and power display, as well as intelligent battery management.

7. Hot-swappable board control IC: Used to protect against the effects of plugging or unplugging another interface from the working system.

8. MOSFET or IGBT driver IC: used to drive power field effect transistors (MOSFET) or insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT), etc.

There are many types of power management ICs, and more types of devices can be derived according to different application fields and needs.

05. Application fields of power management IC

Power management ICs are widely used in many fields, including:

- Portable products: such as mobile phones, digital cameras, laptops, MP3 players, mobile hard drives, etc.

- Digital consumer electronics products: such as HD TVs, LCD TVs and panels, DVD players, etc.

- Computers: including desktops and servers.

- Communication network equipment: such as routers, switches, communication base stations, etc.

- Industrial equipment: including automated production lines, mechanical equipment, etc.

- Automotive electronics: used in power management systems inside cars.

Among them, consumer electronics is one of the main application areas of power management ICs.

06. The impact of power management on device performance, energy efficiency and security

Power management affects devices in the following ways:

- Reduced device performance: In power management mode, the operating system may reduce the CPU's operating frequency to save power, but this will cause the device's operating speed and performance to decrease.

- Extended startup time: In power management mode, device startup time is usually longer because the operating system needs to reload and configure hardware resources.

- Reduce screen brightness: In order to save power, power management may reduce the screen brightness of the device, thus affecting the display effect.

- Reduce device responsiveness: Power management may shut down unnecessary devices, causing the device to become less responsive.

- Limit device functions: In order to save power, power management may turn off certain functions, such as sound or camera, thereby limiting the device's functionality and usage.

On the other hand, power management has a positive impact on a device's energy efficiency, battery life and energy consumption:

- Reduce energy waste: By monitoring, adjusting and optimizing power consumption, power management can reduce unnecessary energy waste and improve the effective utilization of energy.

- Extend battery life: Power management can effectively extend battery life, reduce the frequency of battery replacement, and improve resource utilization efficiency.

- Reduce energy consumption: Power management can reduce the energy consumption of equipment, thereby reducing environmental pollution and energy waste, and improving the effective utilization of energy.

- Improve energy efficiency ratio: Power management can reduce the energy consumption of the device, improve the energy efficiency ratio of the device, and achieve better energy saving effects.

In short, power management plays an important role in improving energy efficiency, extending battery life, and reducing energy consumption. However, to achieve optimal performance and security, a balance must be struck between these aspects. Properly configuring and using a power management system can maximize the performance and security of your device while achieving improvements in energy efficiency and battery life.