The Nordic nPM1304 PMIC: Revolutionizing Energy Management in Space-Constrained Applications

Nordic Semiconductor’s latest creation, the nPM1304 PMIC, takes the cue from its preceding device, the nPM1300, and is engineered to tackle space-constrained situations where energy-hungry devices necessitate extremely low power budgets. The nPM1304 boasts a plethora of advanced system management features and highly accurate fuel gauging for the most demanding, low-power applications. Key Highlights of the nPM1304

Accurate fuel gauge with system management features for low-power applications
Meets the energy requirements of modern products
Reduces the Bill-of-Materials (BoM) by consolidating circuitry into a single chip

The nPM1304 employs a novel algorithm-based fuel gauge method that leverages voltage, current, and temperature monitoring, along with a sophisticated battery model, to estimate the state of charge with pinpoint accuracy. This approach yields a result comparable to that of dedicated fuel gauge devices such as coulomb counters but with minimal power consumption and no inherent errors. The Nordic claim to deliver the level of precision that modern users expect, while keeping power consumption at an optimal level suitable for small energy budgets. A dedicated fuel gauge device typically consumes significant power, with active modes reaching up to 50µA and sleep modes consuming as much as 7µA. For devices with relatively low current consumption, such as 200µA, traditional fuel gauging poses a significant energy burden. In contrast, the nPM1304 provides an efficient solution that uses just 8µA active and 0µA in sleep, ensuring that state-of-charge estimates remain accurate without shortening battery life.

Nordic nPM1304 Features	Description
Battery Charging	Supports single-cell Li-ion, Li-poly, and LiFePO4 batteries with a linear charging module and programmable voltage termination.
Fuel Gauging	Accurate state-of-charge estimation with minimal power consumption and no shortening of battery life.
Power Supply Management	Optimizes power supply for Nordic’s ultra-low power nRF52, nRF53, and nRF54 Series SoCs and other microcontrollers (MCUs).

Geir Kjosavik, Product Director, PMICs at Nordic Semiconductor, stated, “The demand for compact, connected sensor devices is growing rapidly. With the nPM1304, we’re giving our customers a breakthrough solution – accurate remaining battery life estimation with ultra-low power consumption – something the market has been waiting for.” The nPM1304 is tailored to cater to devices with small rechargeable batteries, such as smart rings, sports performance trackers, and personal health care monitoring devices.

Nordic’s algorithm-based fuel gauge method uses voltage, current, and temperature monitoring, along with a mathematical battery model, to estimate battery state of charge.

The device manages the power supply for Nordic’s ultra-low power nRF52, nRF53, and nRF54 Series SoCs and other microcontrollers (MCUs), optimizing for maximum efficiency and compact size.

In addition to battery charging and fuel gauging, the nPM1304 offers two ultra-efficient buck converters, two load switches/Low Drop Out voltage converters (LDOs), 5 GPIOs, and 3 LED drivers. It also features an I2C-compatible Two Wire Interface (TWI) for easy configuration of advanced system management functions, including integrated hard reset functionality from one or two buttons, accurate battery fuel gauging, system-level watchdog, power loss warning, and recovery from failed boot.

Benefits of the nPM1304

Maximizes efficiency and compact size for Nordic’s ultra-low power nRF52, nRF53, and nRF54 Series SoCs and other microcontrollers (MCUs).
Accurately estimates the state of charge with a novel algorithm-based fuel gauge method.
Reduces the Bill-of-Materials (BoM) by consolidating circuitry into a single chip.

The Nordic nPM1304 PMIC is designed to tackle the pressing needs of modern, space-constrained applications, where the goal is to minimize energy consumption while maximizing functionality. With its cutting-edge features, the nPM1304 promises to be a game-changer in the realm of energy management, allowing users to build innovative products that stand out from the competition. Innovative Solution for Energy-Constrained Applications

By implementing the nPM1304 in products like smart rings, sports performance trackers, and personal health care monitoring devices, manufacturers can create cutting-edge, energy-efficient solutions that provide users with reliable and accurate battery life information. The nPM1304’s ability to accurately estimate battery state of charge while keeping power consumption at a minimum makes it an indispensable tool for developers seeking to build innovative, space-constrained products. The nPM1304 serves as a testament to Nordic Semiconductor’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the realm of ultra-low power electronics, providing users with a breakthrough solution that tackles the complexities of energy management in space-constrained applications. As the demand for compact, connected sensor devices continues to grow, the nPM1304 is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of energy-efficient product design.