Reduce power consumption

Hello Dear; 

I'm developing a low power phy beacon device. But my device current consumption is about 0,7mA. After sending an advertisement, the current consumption should decrease, but in my device remains constant. I wonder if the battery level running in the background is affecting the reading? Is it good for phy coded device? How do I reduce to power consumption?

Note: I can't use deep sleep because I want my device to wake up automatically.

Parents
  • Hi,

    Can you provide more information such as:

    • What peripherals you are using and if you un-initialize them before going to sleep.
    • How do you measure the current? Are you using using the PPK, can you share a plot of the current?
    • Are you using a custom board or a development kit? Have you been able to reproduce this on a dev kit?

    regards
    Jared 

Reply
  • Hi,

    Can you provide more information such as:

    • What peripherals you are using and if you un-initialize them before going to sleep.
    • How do you measure the current? Are you using using the PPK, can you share a plot of the current?
    • Are you using a custom board or a development kit? Have you been able to reproduce this on a dev kit?

    regards
    Jared 

Children
  • What peripherals you are using and if you un-initialize them before going to sleep.

    There are battery level reading and phy beacon. but I don't know how to uninitialize before going to sleep.

    How do you measure the current? Are you using using the PPK, can you share a plot of the current?

    I don't use ppk. I am using multimeter instead of ppk. 

    Are you using a custom board or a development kit? Have you been able to reproduce this on a dev kit?

    I am using bt840F. 

  • sasci said:

    There are battery level reading and phy beacon. but I don't know how to uninitialize before going to sleep.

    Ok, so I'm guessing the battery level is read by using the ADC? Can you share your code?

    sasci said:
    I am using bt840F. 

    Are you using the module on a custom board or the evaluation kit for the module?

    regards

    Jared 

  • Are you using the module on a custom board or the evaluation kit for the module?

    Just using module and battery. This device is edge device. This device reading battery level and set phy beacon then advertising.  

    Ok, so I'm guessing the battery level is read by using the ADC? Can you share your code?

    Of course. It is possible

  • My code is here.

    #include <stdbool.h>
    #include <stdint.h>
    #include "nordic_common.h"
    #include "bsp.h"
    #include "nrf_soc.h"
    #include "nrf_sdh.h"
    #include "nrf_sdh_ble.h"
    #include "ble_advdata.h"
    #include "app_timer.h"
    #include "nrf_pwr_mgmt.h"
    
    #include "nrf_log.h"
    #include "nrf_log_ctrl.h"
    #include "nrf_log_default_backends.h"
    
    #include "nrf_drv_saadc.h"
    
    #define APP_BLE_CONN_CFG_TAG            1                                  /**< A tag identifying the SoftDevice BLE configuration. */
    
    #define NON_CONNECTABLE_ADV_INTERVAL    MSEC_TO_UNITS(100, UNIT_0_625_MS)  /**< The advertising interval for non-connectable advertisement (100 ms). This value can vary between 100ms to 10.24s). */
    
    #define APP_BEACON_INFO_LENGTH          0x17                               /**< Total length of information advertised by the Beacon. */
    #define APP_ADV_DATA_LENGTH             0x15                               /**< Length of manufacturer specific data in the advertisement. */
    #define APP_DEVICE_TYPE                 0x02                               /**< 0x02 refers to Beacon. */
    #define APP_MEASURED_RSSI               0xC3                               /**< The Beacon's measured RSSI at 1 meter distance in dBm. */
    #define APP_COMPANY_IDENTIFIER          0x0059                             /**< Company identifier for Nordic Semiconductor ASA. as per www.bluetooth.org. */
    #define APP_MAJOR_VALUE                 0x01, 0x02                         /**< Major value used to identify Beacons. */
    #define APP_MINOR_VALUE                 0x03, 0x04                         /**< Minor value used to identify Beacons. */
    #define APP_BEACON_UUID                 0x01, 0x12, 0x23, 0x34, \
                                            0x45, 0x56, 0x67, 0x78, \
                                            0x89, 0x9a, 0xab, 0xbc, \
                                            0xcd, 0xde, 0xef, 0xf0            /**< Proprietary UUID for Beacon. */
    
    #define ADC_REF_VOLTAGE_IN_MILLIVOLTS   600                               /**< Reference voltage (in milli volts) used by ADC while doing conversion. */
    #define ADC_PRE_SCALING_COMPENSATION    6                                 /**< The ADC is configured to use VDD with 1/3 prescaling as input. And hence the result of conversion is to be multiplied by 3 to get the actual value of the battery voltage.*/
    #define DIODE_FWD_VOLT_DROP_MILLIVOLTS  270                               /**< Typical forward voltage drop of the diode . */
    #define ADC_RES_10BIT                   1024                              /**< Maximum digital value for 10-bit ADC conversion. */
    
    #define DEAD_BEEF                       0xDEADBEEF                         /**< Value used as error code on stack dump, can be used to identify stack location on stack unwind. */
    #define ADC_RESULT_IN_MILLI_VOLTS(ADC_VALUE)\
            ((((ADC_VALUE) * ADC_REF_VOLTAGE_IN_MILLIVOLTS) / ADC_RES_10BIT) * ADC_PRE_SCALING_COMPENSATION)
    
    #if defined(USE_UICR_FOR_MAJ_MIN_VALUES)
    #define MAJ_VAL_OFFSET_IN_BEACON_INFO   18                                 /**< Position of the MSB of the Major Value in m_beacon_info array. */
    #define UICR_ADDRESS                    0x10001080                         /**< Address of the UICR register used by this example. The major and minor versions to be encoded into the advertising data will be picked up from this location. */
    #endif
    
    #define ADV_UPDATE_INTERVAL             APP_TIMER_TICKS(5000)  //5000 
    
    static ble_gap_adv_params_t m_adv_params;                                                     /**< Parameters to be passed to the stack when starting advertising. */
    static uint8_t              m_adv_handle = BLE_GAP_ADV_SET_HANDLE_NOT_SET;                    /**< Advertising handle used to identify an advertising set. */
    static uint8_t              m_enc_advdata[BLE_GAP_ADV_SET_DATA_SIZE_EXTENDED_MAX_SUPPORTED];  /**< Buffer for storing an encoded advertising set. */
    static nrf_saadc_value_t m_adc_buf;
    static uint16_t batt_lvl_in_milli_volts;
    static uint8_t percentage_batt_lvl;
    
    APP_TIMER_DEF(m_adv_phy_update_timer_id); 
    
    /**@brief Struct that contains pointers to the encoded advertising data. */
    static ble_gap_adv_data_t m_adv_data =
    {
        .adv_data =
        {
            .p_data = m_enc_advdata,
            .len    = BLE_GAP_ADV_SET_DATA_SIZE_EXTENDED_MAX_SUPPORTED
        },
        .scan_rsp_data =
        {
            .p_data = NULL,
            .len    = 0
    
        }
    };
    
    
    static uint8_t m_beacon_info[APP_BEACON_INFO_LENGTH] =                    /**< Information advertised by the Beacon. */
    {
        APP_DEVICE_TYPE,     // Manufacturer specific information. Specifies the device type in this
                             // implementation.
        APP_ADV_DATA_LENGTH, // Manufacturer specific information. Specifies the length of the
                             // manufacturer specific data in this implementation.
        APP_BEACON_UUID,     // 128 bit UUID value.
        APP_MAJOR_VALUE,     // Major arbitrary value that can be used to distinguish between Beacons.
        APP_MINOR_VALUE,     // Minor arbitrary value that can be used to distinguish between Beacons.
        APP_MEASURED_RSSI    // Manufacturer specific information. The Beacon's measured TX power in
                             // this implementation.
    };
    
    
    /**@brief Callback function for asserts in the SoftDevice.
     *
     * @details This function will be called in case of an assert in the SoftDevice.
     *
     * @warning This handler is an example only and does not fit a final product. You need to analyze
     *          how your product is supposed to react in case of Assert.
     * @warning On assert from the SoftDevice, the system can only recover on reset.
     *
     * @param[in]   line_num   Line number of the failing ASSERT call.
     * @param[in]   file_name  File name of the failing ASSERT call.
     */
    void assert_nrf_callback(uint16_t line_num, const uint8_t * p_file_name)
    {
        app_error_handler(DEAD_BEEF, line_num, p_file_name);
    }
    static uint16_t saadc_event_handler(nrf_drv_saadc_evt_t const * p_event)
    {
        if (p_event->type == NRF_DRV_SAADC_EVT_DONE)
        //if(true)
        {
            nrf_saadc_value_t adc_result;
            uint32_t err_code;
    
            adc_result = p_event->data.done.p_buffer[0];
    
            batt_lvl_in_milli_volts =
                ADC_RESULT_IN_MILLI_VOLTS(adc_result) + DIODE_FWD_VOLT_DROP_MILLIVOLTS;
            
            percentage_batt_lvl = battery_level_in_percent(batt_lvl_in_milli_volts);
    
            //NRF_LOG_INFO("Battery Level : %d [mV]", batt_lvl_in_milli_volts);
            //NRF_LOG_INFO("Battery Percent : %d", percentage_batt_lvl);
            return (percentage_batt_lvl);
        }
        else if (p_event->type == NRF_DRV_SAADC_EVT_CALIBRATEDONE)
        {
            NRF_LOG_INFO("SAADC calibration complete");
        }
        return (batt_lvl_in_milli_volts);
    }
    
    static void battery_level_meas_timeout_handler(void * p_context)
    {
        UNUSED_PARAMETER(p_context);
        
        ret_code_t err_code = nrf_drv_saadc_buffer_convert(&m_adc_buf, 1);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
        
        err_code = nrf_drv_saadc_sample();
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    }
    /**@brief Function for initializing the Advertising functionality.
     *
     * @details Encodes the required advertising data and passes it to the stack.
     *          Also builds a structure to be passed to the stack when starting advertising.
     */
    static void advertising_init(void)
    {
        uint32_t      err_code;
        ble_advdata_t advdata;
        uint8_t       flags = BLE_GAP_ADV_FLAG_BR_EDR_NOT_SUPPORTED;
    
        ble_advdata_manuf_data_t manuf_specific_data;
    
        manuf_specific_data.company_identifier = APP_COMPANY_IDENTIFIER;
    
    #if defined(USE_UICR_FOR_MAJ_MIN_VALUES)
        // If USE_UICR_FOR_MAJ_MIN_VALUES is defined, the major and minor values will be read from the
        // UICR instead of using the default values. The major and minor values obtained from the UICR
        // are encoded into advertising data in big endian order (MSB First).
        // To set the UICR used by this example to a desired value, write to the address 0x10001080
        // using the nrfjprog tool. The command to be used is as follows.
        // nrfjprog --snr <Segger-chip-Serial-Number> --memwr 0x10001080 --val <your major/minor value>
        // For example, for a major value and minor value of 0xabcd and 0x0102 respectively, the
        // the following command should be used.
        // nrfjprog --snr <Segger-chip-Serial-Number> --memwr 0x10001080 --val 0xabcd0102
        uint16_t major_value = ((*(uint32_t *)UICR_ADDRESS) & 0xFFFF0000) >> 16;
        uint16_t minor_value = ((*(uint32_t *)UICR_ADDRESS) & 0x0000FFFF);
    
        uint8_t index = MAJ_VAL_OFFSET_IN_BEACON_INFO;
    
        m_beacon_info[index++] = MSB_16(major_value);
        m_beacon_info[index++] = LSB_16(major_value);
    
        m_beacon_info[index++] = MSB_16(minor_value);
        m_beacon_info[index++] = LSB_16(minor_value);
    #endif
    
        manuf_specific_data.data.p_data = (uint8_t *) m_beacon_info;
        manuf_specific_data.data.size   = APP_BEACON_INFO_LENGTH;
    
        // Build and set advertising data.
        memset(&advdata, 0, sizeof(advdata));
    
        advdata.name_type             = BLE_ADVDATA_NO_NAME;
        advdata.flags                 = flags;
        advdata.p_manuf_specific_data = &manuf_specific_data;
    
        // Initialize advertising parameters (used when starting advertising).
        //memset(&m_adv_params, 0, sizeof(m_adv_params));
    
        m_adv_params.properties.type = BLE_GAP_ADV_TYPE_EXTENDED_NONCONNECTABLE_NONSCANNABLE_UNDIRECTED;
        m_adv_params.p_peer_addr     = NULL;    // Undirected advertisement.
        m_adv_params.filter_policy   = BLE_GAP_ADV_FP_ANY;
        m_adv_params.interval        = NON_CONNECTABLE_ADV_INTERVAL;
        m_adv_params.duration        = 0;       // Never time out.
    
        err_code = ble_advdata_encode(&advdata, m_adv_data.adv_data.p_data, &m_adv_data.adv_data.len);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    
        err_code = sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure(&m_adv_handle, &m_adv_data, &m_adv_params);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
        m_beacon_info[22] = percentage_batt_lvl;
        //NRF_LOG_INFO("battary_level %d",percentage_batt_lvl);
    }
    
    
    /**@brief Function for starting advertising.
     */
    static void advertising_start(void)
    {
        ret_code_t err_code;
    
        err_code = sd_ble_gap_adv_start(m_adv_handle, APP_BLE_CONN_CFG_TAG);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    
        err_code = bsp_indication_set(BSP_INDICATE_ADVERTISING);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    }
    
    static void adv_phy_update_timeout_handler(void * p_context,const uint16_t batt_lvl_in_milli_volts)
    {     
        ret_code_t err_code = nrf_drv_saadc_buffer_convert(&m_adc_buf, 1);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
        
        err_code = nrf_drv_saadc_sample();
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
        static bool coded;
    
        coded = !coded;
    
        sd_ble_gap_adv_stop(0);
    
        if (coded == true)
        {
            m_adv_params.primary_phy   = BLE_GAP_PHY_CODED;
            m_adv_params.secondary_phy = BLE_GAP_PHY_CODED;
            NRF_LOG_INFO("Starting advertising with CODED PHY");
            // m_beacon_info[22] = percentage_batt_lvl;
            NRF_LOG_INFO("battary_level %d",m_beacon_info[22]);
        }
        else
        {   
            m_adv_params.primary_phy   = BLE_GAP_PHY_CODED;
            m_adv_params.secondary_phy = BLE_GAP_PHY_CODED;
            NRF_LOG_INFO("Starting advertising with 1M PHY");
        }
    
        advertising_init();
        advertising_start();
    }
    
    
    /**@brief Function for initializing the BLE stack.
     *
     * @details Initializes the SoftDevice and the BLE event interrupt.
     */
    static void ble_stack_init(void)
    {
        ret_code_t err_code;
    
        err_code = nrf_sdh_enable_request();
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    
        // Configure the BLE stack using the default settings.
        // Fetch the start address of the application RAM.
        uint32_t ram_start = 0;
        err_code = nrf_sdh_ble_default_cfg_set(APP_BLE_CONN_CFG_TAG, &ram_start);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    
        // Enable BLE stack.
        err_code = nrf_sdh_ble_enable(&ram_start);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    }
    
    
    /**@brief Function for initializing logging. */
    static void log_init(void)
    {
        ret_code_t err_code = NRF_LOG_INIT(NULL);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    
        NRF_LOG_DEFAULT_BACKENDS_INIT();
    }
    
    /**@brief Function for initializing LEDs. */
    static void leds_init(void)
    {
        ret_code_t err_code = bsp_init(BSP_INIT_LEDS, NULL);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    }
    
    
    /**@brief Function for initializing timers. */
    static void timers_init(void)
    {
        ret_code_t err_code = app_timer_init();
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    
        err_code = app_timer_create(&m_adv_phy_update_timer_id,
                                    APP_TIMER_MODE_REPEATED,
                                    adv_phy_update_timeout_handler);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    }
    
    
    /**@brief Function for initializing power management.
     */
    static void power_management_init(void)
    {
        ret_code_t err_code;
        err_code = nrf_pwr_mgmt_init();
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    }
    
    static void adc_configure(void)
    {   
        ret_code_t err_code = nrf_drv_saadc_init(NULL, saadc_event_handler);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
        nrf_saadc_channel_config_t config =
            NRF_DRV_SAADC_DEFAULT_CHANNEL_CONFIG_SE(NRF_SAADC_INPUT_VDD);
        config.burst = NRF_SAADC_BURST_ENABLED;
        err_code = nrf_drv_saadc_channel_init(0, &config);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
        err_code = nrf_drv_saadc_calibrate_offset();
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);    
    }
    
    /**@brief Function for handling the idle state (main loop).
     *
     * @details If there is no pending log operation, then sleep until next the next event occurs.
     */
    static void idle_state_handle(void)
    {
        if (NRF_LOG_PROCESS() == false)
        {
            nrf_pwr_mgmt_run();
        }
    }
    
    
    /**
     * @brief Function for application main entry.
     */
    int main(void)
    {
        // Initialize.
        log_init();
        timers_init();
        leds_init();
        power_management_init();
        ble_stack_init();
        adc_configure();
        (void)sd_power_dcdc_mode_set(NRF_POWER_DCDC_ENABLE);
        advertising_init();
    
        // Start execution.
        NRF_LOG_INFO("Beacon example started.");
        
        advertising_start();
    
        uint32_t err_code = app_timer_start(m_adv_phy_update_timer_id, APP_TIMER_TICKS(3000), NULL);//10000
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    
        // Enter main loop.
        for (;; )
        {
            idle_state_handle();
        }
    }
    
    
    

  • Hi,

    There are a couple of steps that you can implement to do decrease the power consumption:

    1. You can turn off the logger module. Disable logging in the sdk_config.h file
    2. Use RTC + PPI to enable the EasyDMA only during sampling. See this example.

    regards

    Jared 

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