ASIC Power Management: Extending IoT Device Battery Performance

Efficient power management is critical to extending the lifespan of IoT devices.
In many applications—especially in medical, wearable, or remote sensor systems—battery replacement may not be feasible. This makes reducing power consumption not only a matter of convenience, but a fundamental requirement for product viability.

Understanding Power Profiles in IoT Devices

IoT sensor devices typically operate in multiple power modes:

• Sleep mode, where the device remains idle most of the time and consumes less than 1 μW
  
• Listening mode, which activates intermittently and draws 2–10 μW
• Transmitting mode, which is used briefly but may require several hundred μW to a few mW
  

This wide dynamic load range creates a major design challenge. If the power management architecture isn’t optimized across all these modes, it can drain more power than necessary—potentially jeopardizing product longevity and business viability.

Linear Regulators vs. Switching Converters

Two common voltage regulation strategies in ASICs are:

• Linear regulators: Simple and compact, with low noise and excellent regulation—but inefficient under high voltage drops or load currents.
• Switching converters (e.g., buck converters): More complex and larger, but vastly more efficient across a broad range of operating conditions.

In many cases, a hybrid approach is ideal—such as using a switching converter for active modes and a linear regulator for ultra-low-power sleep states.

Optimizing Power Efficiency with ASIC Design

To manage power efficiently in an ASIC for IoT:

• Use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) for high loads, offering stability and efficiency in continuous conduction mode.
• Switch to Pulse Frequency Modulation (PFM) or hysteresis-based control under lighter loads to reduce switching losses.
• Implement auto-transitioning logic to shift between modes and optimize performance across the device lifecycle.

Presto Engineering’s ASICs implement these strategies to maximize energy efficiency across all usage scenarios. Our approach is built around adaptive regulation schemes that match your device’s power profile from startup to ultra-low-power sleep.

Collaborative ASIC Development to Extend Battery Life

Presto has extensive experience designing ASICs with advanced power management strategies, including switching converter architecture optimized for dynamic load ranges. We guide customers through critical design decisions—whether to use linear regulators or switching converters, how to select the right components, and how to structure their control logic for optimal power conservation.

📘 Read our full whitepaper for a deep dive into switching converter modes, design trade-offs, and practical recommendations: Download whitepaper

Why Work with Presto?

Beyond power management architecture, we manage the full ASIC development flow—from initial concept to IC delivery. Our offer includes:

• Silicon-proven IP platforms to accelerate development
• In-house power management expertise
• Turnkey support for design, test, and qualification

By partnering with Presto, you reduce risk, improve efficiency, and create longer-lasting IoT products.

Learn more about how Presto’s ASIC expertise helps maximize energy efficiency in connected devices:
👉 Explore our ASIC Design Solutions