Roman Budek

Industry Consultant
RomanB60156@yahoo.com

rev: 10/23/01
Microcontrollers Application Note #2 orig: 7/28/97
Dynamic Power Consumption Calculations

CASE #1 (uPD78053)

Assume the following operating conditions: 1) 2.85Vcc, 2) Crystal frequency of

3.6864 MHz, 3) use uPD78053 part, and 4) reference the uPD78052,78053…
Data Sheet (NEC document #U12327EJ3V0DS00 3rd edition)

The first thing to note is that the DC characteristics, as shown in the chart on
page 45, are not as useful as the characteristic curves shown on page 66.

The maximum operating frequency of TCY, as shown in the AC specifications on

page 46, is stated as 0.8S minimum. The crystal frequency (fX) of 3.6864 MHz
translates into:
TCPU = 1/fX = 1 / (3.6864 MHz) = 0.27S

TCY = 2 * TCPU = 2 * (0.27S) = 0.54S

However, the 0.54S exceeds the minimum specified value of 0.8S. Therefore,
the PCC (processor clock control) register will have to be set to PCC=01. We
then have:

TCY (PCC=01) = 2 * TCY (PCC=00) = 2 * (0.54S)

TCY (PCC=01) = 1.08 S (with fX = 3.686 MHz)

AN_uc2.doc
The characteristic graphs for IDD vs VDD, as shown on page 66, show power
consumption for the micro at various PCC register settings and for different
modes. However, the curves are based on a crystal frequency (fX) of 5.0 MHz,
so we need to calculate how much of a difference this is from our situation.

TCPU = 1/fX = 1 / (5.0 MHz) = 0.2S

TCY = 2 * TCPU = 2 * (0.2S) = 0.4S (with PCC=00)

TCY (PCC=01) = 2 * TCY (PCC=00) = 2 * (0.4S)

TCY (PCC=01) = 0.8 S (with fX = 5.0 MHz)

Therefore, the numbers shown on the page 66 curves are more conservative
than the user’s conditions. So, to find the operating current of the device look
down the chart to find the PCC=01H curve which is the second one from the top.
This curve shows that for Vcc=2.85V, the operating current should be about
1.8mA.

To find the standby current, locate the HALT (X1 stop, XT1 oscillation) curve,
which is the last curve on the graph. This curve shows that for Vcc=2.85V, the
standby current should be about 0.0032mA.

To find the total power consumption, the user will have to determine what
percentage of the time the micro will be in operating mode and what percentage
the micro will be in standby mode. Then total power consumption can be linearly
calculated by:

Ptotal = (% time in oper mode) * Poper + (% time stby mode) * Pstby

Page 2 of 20
Page 3 of 20
Page 4 of 20
 CASE #2 (uPD789417)

K0s microcontroller (uPD789417) microcontroller with LCD on-board the device.

Even with a LCD controller, the power consumption is only 59µA during full
operating power (with Vcc=1.80V, fcrystal = 1MHz, and clock divided down by 4).

If a user is using the K0s microcontroller with-out the LCD, the power
consumption will be even lower.

Data in table form:

Operating Voltage 1.80 2.00 2.20 2.70 3.00 3.30 4.00 4.50 5.00 5.50
1_Run@fx 0.106 0.123 0.141 0.189 0.223 0.257 0.348 0.417 0.488 0.562
2_Run@Fx/4 0.059 0.071 0.085 0.121 0.147 0.174 0.247 0.306 0.369 0.434
3_Halt@fx 0.047 0.057 0.069 0.103 0.127 0.153 0.222 0.279 0.341 0.405
4_Halt@fx/4 0.044 0.054 0.066 0.098 0.121 0.147 0.214 0.269 0.329 0.391
5_Run@fx vs 0.047 0.052 0.056 0.068 0.076 0.083 0.101 0.111 0.119 0.128
Run@fx/4
6_Run@ fx vs Halt@ 0.062 0.069 0.075 0.091 0.102 0.110 0.134 0.148 0.159 0.171
fx/4
Saving 6 vs 5 0.015 0.017 0.019 0.023 0.026 0.027 0.033 0.037 0.040 0.043

Page 5 of 20
Data in graphical form:

uPD789418
Typ performance @1 MHz @25 deg.C

0.600

0.550

0.500
Current consumption (mA)

0.450

0.400

0.350

0.300

0.250

0.200

0.150

0.100

0.050

0.000
1.80 2.00 2.20 2.70 3.00 3.30 4.00 4.50 5.00 5.50

Operating Voltage (V)

1_Run@fx 2_Run@Fx/4
3_Halt@fx 4_Halt@fx/4

Page 6 of 20
 CASE #3 (uPD789012)

K0s microcontroller (uPD789012) microcontroller operating at 3.58MHz. Note

that power consumption can be much lower if the operating voltage can be
reduced down to 1.8V. 3.58MHz was selected because this is the cheapest
crystal in the 1MHz to 5MHz range.

HALT mode is very useful mode because the main clock is still oscillating.
Therefore, a watchdog timer could be used to create a very low power timer.

Operating mode Vcc = 3.0V Vcc = 2.7V

PCC1 = 0 (full speed) 0.435 mA 0.38 mA
PCC1 = 1 (low speed) 0.235 mA 0.185 mA
HALT 0.160 mA 0.14 mA

Page 7 of 20
 CASE #4 (uPD703033)

V850 based 32 bit microcontrollers consume very little power during operation.
The following example shows the uPD703033AGC power consumption.

Known conditions:
1. Use the following devices: mask = uPD703033AGC V1.0 , flash =
uPD70F3033AGC V1.0
2. Supply voltages: VDD = 5V, EVDD = 5V, BVDD = 5V, AVDD = 5V
3. fCPU = fxx
4. Operating tmperature = 20 ºC

Measured values:

Operating Frequency 4.00 8.00 12.00 16.00 20.00

1_Run (Flash) 10.400 16.140 21.730 27.100 32.540
2_Run (Mask) 4.970 9.440 13.290 17.190 21.050
3_Halt (Flash) 2.270 4.210 6.130 8.030 9.940
4_Halt (Mask) 2.060 3.870 5.670 7.470 9.260
5_Idle (Flash) 0.415 0.504 0.580 0.657 0.753
6_Idle (Mask) 0.323 0.394 0.472 0.542 0.613

Measured values:

Flash device Mask Device

Stop mode 11.5 uA 7.93 uA
Run mode (using sub clock) 218 uA 41.55 uA
Halt mode (using sub clock) 100 uA 17.92 uA
Idle mode (using sub clock) 90 uA 8.34 uA

From these measured values, a formula can be extrapolated for current

consumption:

Flash(RUN) : Idd = 1.38 * fxx + 5.00

Mask (RUN) : Idd = 1.00 * fxx + 1.22

Flash(HALT) : Idd = 0.48 * fxx + 0.37

Mask (HALT) : Idd = 0.45 * fxx + 0.27

Page 8 of 20
Flash(IDLE) : Idd = 0.0207 * fxx + 0.333
Mask (IDLE) : Idd = 0.0182 * fxx + 0.250

Page 9 of 20
Data in graphical form:

uPD703033
Typ performance @5V @20 deg.C

35.000

30.000
Current consumption (mA)

25.000

20.000

15.000

10.000

5.000

0.000
4.00 8.00 12.00 16.00 20.00

Operating Frequency (Fxx)

1_Run (Flash) 2_Run (Mask) 3_Halt (Flash)

4_Halt (Mask) 5_Idle (Flash) 6_Idle (Mask)

Page 10 of 20
 CASE #5 (uPD789881)

NEC has introduced a new Ultra Low Power K0s microcontroller, the
uPD789881, which provides enormous benefits for low power applications.

The first main benefit of the device is that the main clock oscillator works at
32KHz. The on-board internal oscillator boosts the operating frequency of the
core to 500KHz.

The device only works between 2.7V to 3.6V, unlike other K0s devices which
operate from 1.8V to 5.0V. However, the main reason for having the wider
operating voltage was to increase battery life. The uPD789881 device will still
provide a longer battery life over the much more desirable 2.7V to 3.6V than
another micro will at 1.8V to 5.0V. Also, while operating down to 2.7V, a 3.3V
LCD should still be legible with-out having to use voltage booster circuitry.

Power consumption is about the same for mask and flash devices.

Despite being a low power device, an 8 bit hardware multiplier on board.

µPD789881 Series

Package: 64pin plastic LQFP

Mask (µPD789881): 16 KB / 512 byte
Flash (µPD78F9882): 32 KB / 512 byte
26
26 segment,
segment, 44 common
common
lines CMOS
CMOS I/O
I/O Port
Port :: 13
13 lines
lines
lines
Segment
Segment // I/O
I/O Port
Port :: 11
11 lines
lines
LCD Nch-OD
Nch-OD Port
Port (4.6V)
(4.6V) :: 44 lines
lines
LCDcontroller/driver
controller/driver Total :: 28
Total 28 lines
lines

UART
UART I/O
I/Oports
ports
Built-in
Built-in baud
baud rate
rate
generator
generator
(up
(up to
to 9600
9600 bps)
bps) ROM
ROM RAM
RAM
8-bit
8-bitHardware
Hardware 8-bit
8-bitTimer
Timer//
Multiplier
Multiplier Event
EventCounter
Counter

78K/0S
78K/0S
CPU 8-bit
8-bitTimer
Timer//
Watchdog
WatchdogTimer
Timer CPUCore
Core
Event
EventCounter
Counter

Internal
Internal 16-bit
16-bitTimer
Timer//
Interrupt
InterruptControl
Control Sub-Clock
Sub-Clock
Oscillator
Oscillator Event
EventCounter
Counter

-Instruction
-InstructionCycle
Cycle
31
31µs
µs@ @3232KHz,
KHz, 32.786
32.786 kHz
kHz
44µs
µs@@500
500kHz
kHz or
or
-Operating
-Operatingvoltage
voltagerange
range 38.4
38.4 kHz
kHz
VVDD ==2.7
2.7to
to3.6
3.6VV
DD

Page 11 of 20
 Product Features

CPU core 78K0S

Power supply voltage 2.7 to 3.6 V (2.2 to 3.6V at only sub operation)
Operating temperature -40 to 85 ºC

Frequency Main:500 kHz (typ.) by on-chip oscillator

Sub: 32.768 or 38.4 kHz by crystal oscillator

Main:4 µs at 500 kHz (typ.)(2.7 to 3.6V)

Minimum instruction time
Sub: 31 µs at 32.768 kHz x 4/122 µs at 32.768 kHz
ROM / RAM 16 KB ROM / 512 bytes RAM (Flash: 32 KB ROM)
LCD 26 seg x 4 com (static or 1/3 bias)
Timer 16-bit timer/event counter x 1ch
8-bit timer/event counter x 2ch
Watchdog timer x 1ch
Multiplier 8-bit hardware multiplier
UART with baud-rate generator x 1 ch
Serial I/O
(up to 9600 bps @ 38.4 kHz subclock)
I/O CMOS I/O: 24, N-ch open-drain (4.6 V): 4
Package 64pin LQFP (10 x 10 mm², 0.5 mm pin pitch)

Operating mode Frequency 2.7 V 3.0 V 3.5 V Remarks

Main run mode (cycle time 4 µs) Internal oscillator: 500 kHz 18 µA 21 µA 25 µA Ta = 25 °C
SUB run mode (cycle time 31 µs) 32 KHz 5.0 µA 6.1 µA 7.0 µA Ta = 25 °C
Sub HALT mode 32 KHz 0.90 µA 0.92 µA 0.98 µA Ta = 25 °C

Note 1: In Sub HALT mode, CPU is inactive, one 8-bit Timer and the LCD C/D is active.
2: These values are except for the LCD drive current.
3: The above given values are target for the mask products.
Flash product will have a higher power consumption.

Page 12 of 20
 Comparison vs other NEC uC
789881
789881Power
PowerConsumption
Consumption
0.07
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.05
0.05
0.04
mW 0.04
mW0.03
0.03 3V
0.02 3V
0.02
0.01 2.7V
0.01 2.7V
0
0 Normal Halt Stop
Normal Halt Stop
Mode Mode Mode
Mode Mode Mode
Operating Mode
Operating Mode
789166Y Power Consumption
789166Y Power Consumption

0.06 mW @ 3v 12
12
10
10
8
8
5V

30X lower power mW 6 5V

mW 6 3V
3V
4 2V
4 2V
2
2
0
2 mW @ 3v 0 Oper
Oper

Page 13 of 20
Now, how about if the microcontroller performs real tasks such taking A/D
samples and updating the Real Time Clock. The clock utilization would then be:

Current Consumption Example

for a Power Meter Application

IDD
T4

2 minute loop
IDD1
21 µA

T1 T2 T3 T3
IDD3:
6.1 µA

IDD4:
0.9 µA
Time
A/D Other RTC RTC
Conversion Calculation Update Update

Where the timer intervals are:

1. T1 = Time to do the A/D conversion (i. e. 2 x approx. 125 ms)
2. T2 = Time to calculate something (i. e. 2 x approx. 10 000 cycles @ 4 µs)
3. T3 = Time to keep the Real Time Clock (i. e. every 2 seconds for approx. 600
µs)
4. T4 = Time period to repeat one measurements cycle (i. e. every 2 minutes)

Calculation of the average current consumption for a two minutes cycle:

= (2 T1 x 6.1 µA) + (2 T2 x 21 µA) + (60 T3 x 6.1 µA) + 120,000 ms - (2 T1 + 2

T2 + 60 T3) x 0.9 µA) / 120,000 ms

= (2 x 125 ms x 6.1 µA) + (2 x 40 ms x 21 µA) + (60 x 0.6 ms x 6.1 µA) +

(120,000 ms - (250 ms + 80 ms + 36 ms) x 0.9 µA) / 120,000 ms

Page 14 of 20
The average current for this example: 0.926 uA

Using 2 AA battery cells, this would equate to approximately 12 years of

operating life!

Page 15 of 20
 CASE #6 (SoCLite)

NEC has a family of ARM based microcontrollers which feature an ARM7 core
surrounded by gate array logic, called UDL (User Defined Logic), which the user
can program with his own netlist. The power consumption for the device then
consists of two parts: a) calculating the power consumption for the ARM core and
b) calculating the power consumption of the UDL gate array logic.

The gate array logic used for the SoCLite is an embedded array (EA-9HD), which
is 0.35 micron technology. The power consumption can be obtained for the gate
array logic using the design manuals for the EA-9HD, but it is highly dependent
upon clock frequency, capacitance loading, and amount of logic. The power
consumption can accurately computed once the final netlist has been submitted
to NEC. In the mean time, the user can use the following calculations to provide
a close approximation to the final values.

A very rough power consumption calculation for the gate array logic consists of :

Pdiss = 0.524 W/MHz/cell (internal gates)

A more accurate calculation of the gate array power consumption consists of the
following tables:

APPENDIX A POWER CONSUMPTION

An accurate calculation of the power consumption of internal circuits requires a very large
amount of information, such as capacitance, number of synchronously operating blocks, and
operating frequency of each block.

Consequently, the calculation becomes too complicated to be performed. On the basis of

assumptions concerning such items as circuit operation and configuration, NEC provides
reference values for power consumption. It must be noted that these values may be larger
or smaller than the actual values, depending on factors such as the user’s actual circuit and
its configuration.

This chapter provides a power consumption calculation method that divides the power
consumption of the internal circuit into combination circuits, latches, and flip-flops. This
calculation should be used to review circuit power consumption. However, if the results are
to be used to calculate the life-span of a battery, an extra margin should be provided.

Internal Cell Power Consumption

PDCELL = PDGate + PDLatch + PDF/F + PDT

(1) Combination circuits

PDGate = 0.524 f Cell (W)
where:
f: Operating frequency of data (MHz)

Page 16 of 20
 CellNote: Number of cells that operate at f
Note “Cell” is not number of blocks.

(2) Latches
PDLatch = {PD(Gate = ON) N + PD(Gate = OFF) (1 – N)} f Cell (W)
where:
f: Operating frequency of data (MHz)
CellNote: Number of cells that operate at f
N: Percentage of “Gate = ON” = Tgate(on)
-------------------------------
Tgate(on) + Tgate(off)
PD(Gate = ON): 0.516 (W/Cell/MHz)
PD(Gate = OFF): 0.0385 (W/Cell/MHz)

Note “Cell” is not number of blocks.

Page 17 of 20
(3) D-F/F, JK-F/F, shift registers, and counters

PDF/F = 2 PD(OUTPUT) + PD(CLK) (N2)

------------------------------------------ f Cell ( W)
N

where:
f: Operating frequency of clock (MHz)
CellNote: Number of cells that operate at f

N: T(data)
-----------
T(clk)

Note “Cell” is not number of blocks.

Remark T (DATA): Data cycle
T (CLK): Clock cycle
Example When the clock is twice as fast as one data cycle:
N = 1/0.5 = 2

(4) T-F/F

PDT = 0.367 f Cell ( W)

where:
f: Operating frequency of clock (MHz)
CellNote: Number of cells that operate at f

Note “Cell” is not number of blocks.

(5) Load dependency of power consumption (preliminary)

Power consumption depends to a great extent on the load capacitance, as

expressed by PD = CV2f.

Figure A-1. Load Dependency of Power Consumption

Page 18 of 20
As shown in Figure A-1, the unit power consumption when F/O = 2 is an extremely small 0.66 W/MHz.
Because power consumption has a significant effect on reliability, a realistic value must be used.

The value of load = 4.98 (F/I equivalent) covers a distribution of about 70% of load values, based on
statistical data accumulated at NEC, such as wiring length and pin pairs.

where:
F/O : 2 + l : 2.98

Page 19 of 20
 Summary

These examples show some typical power consumption examples. The best
way to calculate power consumption for your K0/K0s/K4 application is to use the
Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet which can be found on the NEC CD-ROM.

Please call with any questions,

Roman Budek

Page 20 of 20