V. Konstantakos

Energy Consumption Estimation in Embedded Systems

This paper presents an energy consumption modeling technique for embedded systems based on a microcontroller. The software tasks that run on the embedded system are profiled, and their characteristics are analyzed. The type of executed assembly instructions, as well as the number of accesses to the memory and the analog-to-digital converter, is the required information for the derivation of the proposed model. An appropriate instrumentation setup has been developed for measuring and modeling the energy consumption in the corresponding digital circuits.

Measurement of Power Consumption in Digital Systems

A study on measurement configurations for the estimation of power consumption of processing systems is presented in this work. The problem addressed is to measure the energy that a digital system consumes for a numerous number of clock cycles and to assign this consumption to a specific group of instructions. This kind of energy measurement provides the information for determining the energy consumption of specific software routines that run on digital processing systems. The proposed configuration may be integrated in the same chip as a peripheral unit, which will monitor the energy consumption during the different tasks of operation. It is expected to provide clear information of the power behavior of single-chip processing systems for low-power applications, as well as for built-in self test purposes

In-Chip Configuration for Monitoring Power Consumption in Micro-processing Systems

A power measurement technique is presented in this work. The problem addressed is the development of a circuit for accurate measurement of power consumption in micro-processing systems, by means of current sensing. Energy measurements performed over a time period of several clock cycles determine the hardware-software related power parameters of specific groups of instructions. Moreover, this information is useful in power optimization procedures. The proposed configuration can be integrated in the system as a peripheral unit for the evaluation of the core and of the systems peripherals, offering also built-in self test ability to the low power system.

Self-Evaluation Configuration for Remote Data Logging Systems

The problem addressed in this work is the development of a technique for accurate estimation of the good operating condition of the core and the peripheral modules in data logging micro-processing systems, by means of current sensing. In such systems, which are often used in remote operating situations, a self-evaluation procedure is very useful. This procedure may provide vital information about the operating conditions of different sub-systems and modules, including both electronic systems and sensing instruments. These systems usually measure specific parameters, like temperature, pressure etc, by using a combination of sensors, A/D and D/A converters, memory modules, small processors and other miscellaneous modules. Energy measurements performed over a specific time period of several clock cycles determine the overall energy consumption parameters during specific execution of tasks or related to specific groups of instructions. The proposed configuration can be integrated in the system as a peripheral unit for the evaluation of the core and the systems peripherals, offering built-in self test ability to a low power system. Moreover, the information provided may prove useful in energy optimization procedures.

A Power Measuring Technique for Built-in Test Purposes

A built-in configuration for monitoring the good operating condition of an instrumentation system (with analog and digital circuits) in real-time, is presented in this work. The approach is based on a current monitoring circuit which records the changes in the power supply current of the system without practically interfering the operation of the system and sums it within a specific time period. The comparison of the resulting power consumption measurement for hardware modules while executing certain tasks (defined in time by the software) with already known values may indicate the good operating condition of the system. This methodology may also provide information useful to power optimization techniques

Built-in energy measurements in ZIGBEE systems

The problem addressed in this work is the development of a technique for evaluating the energy consumption of ZIGBEE systems during normal operation. For this purpose, a simple ZIGBEE system consisting of a transmitter and a receiver is being measured with the help of an energy measuring scheme. The measurements are being held while these systems operate (either while communicating or while idle) and the resulting waveforms provide indications of the operations being held. Besides the energy exploration of such devices, this approach proves to be a way of understanding the running conditions of such a system only by monitoring its energy consumption. Also, it can be used for verifying the good operating condition of it.

An automated acquisition setup for the evaluation of intermittency statistics

The design and realization of an automated acquisition setup, dedicated to experimental evaluation of intermittent chaotic phenomena and the related statistics, is presented. The setup was implemented in National Instruments LabView environment and it was structured in such a way that it is not dependent of the signal-registering devices used. The circuit evaluation is achieved by registering only one signal. An experimental intermittency example confirms the systems effectiveness.

A neutron dosemeter based on a stack of two p-MOSFETs

The dosimetric characteristics of a new type of Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), sensitive to both thermal and intermediate-fast neutrons were studied. The dosemeters were manufactured at LAAS-CNRS Laboratory in Toulouse, France. They consist of two identical MOSFETs, fabricated on the same silicon chip and showed excellent linearity for wide dose ranges. In order to be used as neutron dosemeters, a thin film of lithium fluoride was deposited on the surface of the MOS gate above the Cr layer. Their sensitivity to thermal neutrons, up to 1eV, is much higher than that of intermediate-fast neutrons.

A power measuring technique for built-in testing of Electrochemical Sensors for Environmental Monitoring

A built-in configuration for monitoring the good operating condition in real-time of an instrumentation system that includes electrochemical sensors is presented in this work. These sensors (mainly dissolve oxygen and pH sensors for online monitoring of water) are widely used in environmental monitoring instruments. The approach is based on a current monitoring circuit which records the changes in the power supply current of such a sensor without practically interfering with its operation and sums this current within a specific time period. The comparison of the resulting power consumption measurement with already known values may indicate the good operating condition of these sensors. The proposed technique is mostly suitable for stand-alone monitoring systems (such as data-loggers or remote stations) which operate continuously in the field of environmental monitoring of water ecosystems (online monitoring). This work uses a microcontroller measuring scheme for implementing the above functionalities.