ウェアラブル・デバイスが普及し、IoT（Internet-of-Things）機能が消費者に期待されるようになるにつれ、超低消費電力の必要性がこれまで以上に高まっています。超低消費電力プロセッサーなどの超低消費電力ソリューションを活用することで、メーカーは消費者の要求に応える、より持続可能でよりインテリジェントなエッジデバイスを作ることができます。超低消費電力ウェアラブルが消費者、メーカー、そして私たちの環境にもたらす大きなメリットのいくつかをご紹介します。
消費者メリット
For wearable users, the advantages of a device running on ultra-low power are obvious. By consuming far less energy, battery-powered edge devices can be worn for much longer without recharging. All types of IoT wearables, whether they are smartwatches, fitness bands, predictive health devices, or even animal trackers, provide a better user experience with longer battery life. With ultra-low power electronics, you can go weeks or even months without needing to recharge. More, given low power, manufacturers can enable consumers to use smaller batteries, allowing for thinner form factors and sleeker design.
There are many inherent disadvantages if you need to recharge your smartwatch daily. First, it’s very common among users to accidentally forget plugging the device for charging before going to bed, which renders the device lifeless in the morning. Second, when your smartwatch is plugged in to recharge its battery, it’s not on your body monitoring vital data. As a result, it will be more difficult for the device to identify trends and generate health insights. However, if your smartwatch can operate for days, weeks, or even months without needing to recharge, it can continuously monitor your biometric data and alert you to any potential concerns.
メーカー特典
Many consumers are picky about appearances, especially for products they will wear on their person. Manufacturers often minimize the form factor for a sleek and slim design which inadvertently sacrificing the battery size. Because consumers don’t want a massive battery in their smartwatch or fitness tracker, manufacturers had to compromise with smaller batteries that wielded less power. However, with the emergence of technologies like ultra-low-power microprocessors, wearable manufacturers can win over consumers with devices that are both fashionable and massively energy efficient.
超低消費電力技術により、メーカーは高度な心拍数センシングやストレス・モニタリング機能を備えた、よりインテリジェントなデバイスを作ることができる。これらの機能が意図したとおりに動作するためには、常にオンでなければならない。しかし、超低消費電力のMCUがなければ、スマート・アクセサリー用の常時オン・センサーは数分でバッテリー寿命を消耗してしまう可能性がある。さらに、多くのデバイスは、Bluetoothなどの無線周波数技術によってほぼ常時ワイヤレス接続を行っているが、これはインテリジェントな電力管理なしでは不可能である。最後に、常時オン機能が期待されるようになると、常時オンの音声コマンド・システムの必要性も出てくる。
環境面でのメリット
With wearable devices playing a more significant role in the way we live, work, and play, it would be negligent to not consider the impact these electronic accessories have on the environment around us. With ultra-low power technologies becoming more available, a new generation of smart wearable devices will be more sustainable and eco-friendlier. More efficient devices equal less energy consumption, which helps reduce CO2 emissions, shrink the overall carbon footprint, and ushers a sustainable lifestyle for a better and safer environment.
As the shift to more sustainable electronics continues, we can look forward to ultra-low power technology components contributing to a lower carbon footprint. Thanks to ongoing innovation, wearable devices will continue to shrink and provide around-the-clock connectivity thanks to the Internet-of-Things (IoT). As such, it’s vital for industry leaders to build crucial pieces of technology that will enable solutions that provide the maximum amount of power for the least amount of energy.
Ambiqの貢献
As a certified Sony Green Partner, Ambiq was founded with the mission to put intelligence everywhere while fostering a cleaner, greener, and safer environment where mobile and portable devices could either reduce or eliminate their total power consumption from batteries. For over a decade, Ambiq has been an industry leader producing reliable and ultra-low-energy components for smart wearable technology.
Built on our patented Sub-threshold Power Optimized Technology (SPOT®) platform, Ambiq’s ultra-low power SoCs extend the processing capability and battery life in smartwatches and advanced wearable accessories. With Ambiq’s Apollo Series, smart wearables can last for weeks, months, or even years on a single charge.
Recently, Ambiq won the “IoT Semiconductor Company of the Year” Award in the 2021 IoT Breakthrough Awards Program. With an abundance of ultra-low power SoCs, and Real-time Clocks (RTC), Ambiq enables new possibilities in IoT edge devices. Check out Ambiq’s modern solutions for more details.
