Power consumptio when a button is constant pushed

RE: Power consumptio when a button is constant pushed

Nguyen Hoan Hoang — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:05:46 GMT

When the button is pressed, an interrupt is generated and call the handler. That is where the addition consumptions are from. The more time the button is pressed, the more power consumption it will be.

RE: Power consumptio when a button is constant pushed

Svein — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 08:56:36 GMT

Hi Nguyen,

Thanks for a quick respons.

Question:

Is the button_app module designed so that interrupts are generated all the time or does the app_button module perform constant scanning of GPIO pins if a button (GPIO) is constantly active? If so, I assume that the module only sends a call to the application when the button status changes.

Kind regards

Svein

RE: Power consumptio when a button is constant pushed

Simonr — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:36:50 GMT

You can export the power profiler trace as a .ppk2 file here so that we can review it. Uploads to DevZone can be done with the Insert button, then choose Image/Video/File, then you can upload a file from there. A good point is being made here that if the button is pressed, the button interrupt is constantly being responded to as well, keeping the device in a running state most likely.

Best regards,

Simon

RE: Power consumptio when a button is constant pushed

Nguyen Hoan Hoang — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 02:13:01 GMT

It is normal that the power consumption is higher 23uA. MCU is constantly responding to the button interrupt. Meaning the MCU is not sleeping but running at 100%.

RE: Power consumptio when a button is constant pushed

Svein — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 21:52:34 GMT

Hi Simon

I use the app_button module to configure the buttons by calling app_button_init.

Power measurement is done by using PPK2

Here is the configuration:

static void buttons_init(void)
{
uint32_t err_code;
static app_button_cfg_t buttons[] =
{
{DM_BUTTON, APP_BUTTON_ACTIVE_LOW, NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL, button_event_handler},
{FUNC_BUTTON1, APP_BUTTON_ACTIVE_LOW, NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL, button_event_handler},
{EM_BUTTON, APP_BUTTON_ACTIVE_LOW, NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL, button_event_handler},
{RU_IN_CHARGER, APP_BUTTON_ACTIVE_HIGH, NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL, button_event_handler},
{FUNC_BUTTON2, APP_BUTTON_ACTIVE_LOW, NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL, button_event_handler},
{FUNC_BUTTON3, APP_BUTTON_ACTIVE_LOW, NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL, button_event_handler},
{FUNC_BUTTON4, APP_BUTTON_ACTIVE_LOW, NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL, button_event_handler}
};
err_code = app_button_init(buttons, ARRAY_SIZE(buttons), BUTTON_DETECTION_DELAY);
APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

err_code = app_button_enable();
APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}

Button names and assosiated GPIO
DM_BUTTON => P0.22
FUNC_BUTTON1 => P0.20
EM_BUTTON => P0.22
FUNC_BUTTON1 => P0.19
RU_IN_CHARGER => P0.04
FUNC_BUTTON2 => P0.21
FUNC_BUTTON3 => P0.23
FUNC_BUTTON4 => P0.24

Is it possible to upload a picture of the measurement done by PPK2?

When looking at PPK2 there are pulses when a button is pushed, and kept pushed.
Time distance from top to top is 980 µS and the amplitude is 2,5mA +/- some hundred µA

Kind regards

Svein

RE: Power consumptio when a button is constant pushed

Simonr — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 14:02:23 GMT

Can you share some details on what GPIO you're pressing here exactly, and what this button is configured as exactly. It might be that it wakes one of the clocks/oscillators, that would indeed increase the current consumption by quite a bit. Also, how do you measure power consumption here exactly, are you using a PPK2, a dedicated power analyzer, or some other method?

Best regards,

Simon