Award

The overload of electronic equipment presents a liability for warfighters, with batteries greatly adding to equipment weight and cost. The objective of this research project is to continue development of autonomous power management circuits that will lighten the load for warfighters by extending battery life in military notebooks and radios. In Phase I, Packet Digital demonstrated a 28% reduction in energy usage in notebook peripherals using tests matching usage models for military notebook computers. During Phase II, Packet Digital will apply their patented On-Demand Power technology to develop integrated power management circuits that significantly reduce power consumption and extend battery life in military notebooks and handset radios. The Packet Digital PowerSage circuits will be the first to autonomously monitor entire systems using dynamic frequency and voltage scaling, distributing only the amount of power needed as demand for energy changes. Because Packet Digital’s unique approach is independent of application and architecture, On-Demand Power can drive substantial power savings in any portable or embedded electronic system. Packet Digital’s On-Demand Power technology can drive significant savings in cost and weight in many types of military communications equipment and in commercial applications such as laptop computers and mobile phones.