Microchip Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: MCHP) today unveiled two new digital power monitors, the PAC1711 and PAC1811, designed to dramatically reduce the energy required to measure power consumption in battery-operated and energy-constrained devices. These monitors consume half the power of comparable solutions under typical conditions, enabling longer device operation without sacrificing monitoring accuracy.
With power efficiency a critical concern for portable electronics and embedded systems, Microchip’s PAC1711 and PAC1811 provide an important breakthrough by functioning as independent “watchdog” peripherals. Unlike traditional systems where the microcontroller (MCU) must manage power monitoring—consuming precious power itself—these monitors enable the MCU to remain dormant until a significant power event requires attention, such as activating an LCD screen. This optimizes battery life in devices ranging from IoT sensors to advanced networking equipment.
The PAC1711 is a 12-bit, 42V, single-channel monitor housed in an 8- or 10-pin Very Thin Dual Flat No-Lead (VDFN) package, while the PAC1811 offers 16-bit precision in the same form factors. Both models are pin- and footprint-compatible with the popular SOT23-8 package, easing integration and second-sourcing for system developers. They communicate via an I2C interface and support bus voltage sensing up to 42 volts, making them versatile for computing, AI/ML, networking, and e-mobility applications.
A defining feature of these monitors is a patent-pending step-alert function that tracks running averages of voltage and current, instantly notifying the MCU of user-defined significant variations. This allows devices to detect out-of-limit power events with minimal processor involvement. For even greater power savings, the monitors offer a slow-sample mode that reduces sampling frequency to once every eight seconds. An accumulator register can log historical power data, helping track battery aging and recharge timing.
Microchip supports the new monitors with comprehensive development tools, including an evaluation Click board compatible with MikroElektronika’s mikroBUS standard. Developers can access Linux drivers and a generic C library with examples tailored for different Microchip MCUs to accelerate adoption.
Pricing for the PAC1711 starts at $0.58 per unit in 10,000 quantities for the VDFN-8 package, with the evaluation Click board priced at $15 each and available immediately. The PAC1811 is similarly available in VDFN-8 and VDFN-10 packages.
“Microchip’s digital power monitors significantly enhance energy efficiency for devices that must carefully manage power budgets,” said Keith Pazul, VP of Microchip’s mixed-signal linear business unit. “By offloading monitoring tasks from the MCU, these monitors extend operational life without compromising real-time system insights.”
