PICORADIO TEST BED POWER SAVING MODES

These power numbers include the digital board and radio only.  No attempt is made to estimate sensor or power board consumption.  Most of the numbers are estimates (i.e. WAGs).  Values for the radio are derived from measurements of the Intercom test board.

 

We can control power of:

• Processor (ARM SA-1100)
• FPGA (Xilinx XC4020XL)
• Radio (Proxim)

 

The figure below shows a schematic of power-related control paths.  In reality, Proxim controls are routed through the Xilinx so that they can be manipulated from the ARM or the Xilinx, or both.  ARM wake from idle is any interrupt source, and ARM wake from sleep are one or more predefined interrupt sources.

 

In the current implementation, there is a common 3.3v supply for both the ARM and Xilinx, so the Xilinx cannot be powered down separately.  The Proxim can be powered down independently.  Off mode for the ARM and Xilinx is board power off.  Xilinx sleep mode is established by turning off the clock.