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Telink power profiler for BLE

Overview

Telink Power Profiler for BLE is a power evaluation tool for Telink chips under BLE conditions. The tool evaluates the current data based on the current model and does not display the actual measured value. The result is an estimate of the average power consumption.

The data generated is only used for evaluation. In addition, the difference between hardware will increase this inaccuracy, and there will be a certain discrepancy between the actual measured value and the evaluated value.

The main interface of the tool is shown below.

Main interface

Note:

At present, the tool can only evaluate scannable broadcast state, unscannable broadcast state and connected state in single peripheral role.

Window Introduction

The main window is divided into four parts as shown below.

Part 1: Parameter setting. These parameters can be modified according to the evaluation scenario, and the optional range of the parameters depends on the data in Telink BLE Power Data.

Part 2: Text display. It mainly includes software introduction or evaluation value display. This part of the content can be copied, but not modified.

Part 3: Current waveform reference, which displays the current reference model for different Roles. This part cannot be modified.

Part 4: Menu bar. Users can enter submenus as needed. It consists of File, Data, and Help.

Main window

Parameter Setting

The part 1 of the main window is parameter setting. The following details the meaning and optional range of each parameter. As shown below. If the setting cannot be supported, the parameter setting will automatically refresh.

Parameter setting

IC Type

The "IC Type" sets the chip type to be evaluated. For example, if the user needs to evaluate the power consumption level of TLSR8208 under BLE condition, "TLSR8208" should be selected here.

The optional range depends on the data in Telink BLE Power Data.

32k clock

The "32k clock" sets the 32kHz clock type to be evaluated. For example, if the user needs to evaluate the power consumption level when using internal 32kHz RC, "RC" should be selected here.

The optional range can only be "RC" or "Crystal".

Regulator

The "Regulator" sets the voltage regulating type to be evaluated. For example, if the user needs to evaluate the power consumption level when using LDO, "LDO" should be selected here.

The optional range can only be "DCDC" or "LDO".

Voltage

The "Voltage" sets the voltage value to be evaluated. For example, if the user needs to evaluate the power consumption level when using 3.3V, "V3.3" should be selected here.

The optional range depends on the data in Telink BLE Power Data.

TX power

The "TX power" sets the transmit power to be evaluated. For example, if the user needs to evaluate the power consumption level when the transmission power is 0dB, "P0dB" should be selected here.

The optional range depends on the data in Telink BLE Power Data.

Role

The "Role" sets the BLE role to be evaluated.

The optional ranges are "Advertising(TX/RX)", "Advertising(Only TX)" and "Connection(peripheral)".

"Advertising(TX/RX)" corresponds to the scannable advertising state.

"Advertising(Only TX)" corresponds to the unscannable advertising state.

"Connection(peripheral)" corresponds to the connected state in the peripheral role.

Sleep mode

The "Sleep mode" sets the sleep mode to be evaluated. For example, if the user needs to evaluate the power consumption level when the sleep mode is suspend, "suspend" should be selected here.

The optional range depends on the data in Telink BLE Power Data.

Adv interval

The "Adv interval" sets the interval of the advertising, and the adjusted step size is 0.625ms, the minimum is 20ms, and the maximum is 10.24s.

Adv TX payload

The "Adv TX payload" sets the payload length of the advertising packet, and the adjusted step size is 1 Byte, the minimum is 0, and the maximum is 31.

Adv channel num

The "Adv channel num" sets the channel number of advertising packets, which can only be 1, 2, or 3.

Conn interval

The "Conn interval" sets the interval of the connected state, and the adjusted step size is 1.25ms, the minimum is 7.5ms, and the maximum is 4s.

Conn latency

The "Conn latency" sets the latency of the connected state, and the adjusted step size is 1, the minimum is 0, and the maximum is 499.

Conn TX payload

The "Conn TX payload" sets the length of the payload transmitted during the connected state, and the adjusted step size is 1 Byte, the minimum is 0, and the maximum is 251.

Conn RX payload

The "Conn RX payload" sets the length of the payload received during the connected state, and the adjusted step size is 1 Byte, the minimum is 0, and the maximum is 251.

Conn PHY

The "Conn PHY" sets PHY setting during the connected state, which can only be 1M PHY, 2M PHY, Coded PHY S2, Coded PHY S8.

Text Display

The part 2 of the main window is text display. When the user modifies parameter settings, the generated evaluation data will be displayed in this part, as shown in the following figure.

This part displays the Telink Power Profiler for BLE version, Telink BLE Power Data version, set parameters, and evaluation data.

Note:

Users can directly copy this part of the text, and it is best to retain the Telink Power Profiler for BLE version and Telink BLE Power Data version for subsequent traceability.

Text display

Current Waveform Reference

The part 3 of the main window is the current waveform reference. When the user modifies the role, this part automatically generates the current reference model according to the role type. For example, if the user sets Role to "Connection(peripheral)", this part will show the current waveform reference in the connected state, as shown in the following figure.

Current waveform reference

The part 4 of the main window is the menu bar, including File, Data and Help.

Menu Submenu Function
File Import XML Import XML data in file system
File Export XML Export XML data to the file system
File Export XML to Excel Export XML data as an Excel file
File Exit Close the software
Data Add/Modify Data Add new data or modify existing data
Help Update XML Update XML file
Help Update Software Update software
Help Help Get help

Note:

XML refers to Telink BLE Power Data, which uses xml file format.

Users can use "Add/Modify Data" to add new data or modify existing data. After clicking, a new window will open, as shown in the following figure. When using this function, you need to pay attention to the following:

  • If no data is available, select "N/A".
  • The following items are mandatory: IC Type, 32k Clock, Regulator and Voltage.
  • TX time refers to the time that transmit 0 byte payload per channel using 1M PHY.
  • BRX refers to the working time of RX at connection of 1s interval.
  • RX time and BRX time refer to the time that receive 0 byte payload per channel using 1M PHY.
  • After confirmation, the data is automatically saved to the XML file. Therefore, user need to modify the data carefully.

Edit data

If users need to use help, they can click "Help" to get it. The help interface is shown below.

Help interface

Note:

Currently, the "Update XML" and "Update Software" functions are being tested and are not open to the public.

Software Practical Operation Example

When using, Users need to confirm the chip type, hardware and software configuration, BLE working parameters and so on.

For example, users need to evaluate the following scenarios: TLSR8271 uses an internal RC as a 32kHz clock source, the voltage regulating mode is DCDC, the operating voltage is 3.3V, the transmission power is set to +3dB, the average power consumption of empty packet under the 1M PHY of a single slave under the 1s long connection interval needs to be evaluated, and the sleep mode is deepsleep retention.

Setting Plan evaluation item Actual set value
IC Type TLSR8271 TLSR827x
32k clock RC RC
Voltage 3.3V V3.3
TX power +3dB P3dB
Role Connected state Connection(peripheral)
sleep mode Deepsleep retention deepret
Conn interval (ms) 1s connection interval 10.00
Conn latency 1s connection interval 99
Conn TX payload Empty packet 0
Conn RX payload Empty packet 0
Conn PHY 1M PHY 1M PHY

Note:

According to the Bluetooth protocol, the maximum connection interval = Conn interval * (Conn latency + 1), so the 1s connection interval can be equivalent to 10ms * (99 + 1), that is, the Conn interval is 10ms, and the Conn latency is 99.

The final set of parameters are shown below.

Parameter setting example

As parameters are modified, current waveform examples and evaluation parameter values are generated. The detailed evaluation parameter values are as follows:

Telink Power Profiler for BLE V2.0.0
XML Version: V2.0.0
Test setup
Chip: TLSR827x
Regulator: DCDC
32K Clock: RC
Voltage: 3.3V
TX Power: P3dB
Role: Connection(peripheral)
Sleep Mode: deepret
Connection Param
Conn Interval: 10.0ms
Conn Latency: 99
Conn TX Payload: 0Byte
Conn RX Payload: 0Byte
Conn PHY: 1M PHY
Current and Time Consumption
Time Wake from Sleep: 891µs
Current Wake from Sleep: 4.0mA
RX Time: 812.0µs
RX Current: 6.12mA
Start Radio Time: 140µs
Start Radio Current: 3.896666666666667mA
TX Time: 80.0µs
TX Current: 7.69mA
Time Prepare to Sleep: 375µs
Current Prepare to Sleep: 3.1mA
Sleep Time: 997702.0µs
Sleep current: 0.9µA
Total average current: 11.75µA

It can be seen that the average current obtained by the final evaluation is 11.75 uA.

Telink Power Profiler for BLE embeds Telink BLE Power Data by default, such as Telink Power Profiler for BLE V2.0.0 embeds Telink BLE Power Data V2.0.0 by default.

If there is no file named Telink_BLE_Power_Data.xml in the same directory, Telink Power Profiler for BLE will automatically generate a Telink_BLE_Power_Data.xml in the same directory when opening the software (based on the embedded Telink BLE Power Data).

At present, Telink BLE Power Data supports TLSR825x, TLSR8208, TLSR827x and TLSR921x, and will gradually update new chip types and new data of existing chips.

The Telink BLE Power Data uses xml format, the basic format is as follows:

<TestRef>
    <Version>######</Version>
    <Param>
####Corresponds to supported chips and parameters
</Param>
    <Data>
####Corresponds to supported data
    </Data>
</TestRef>

Note:

It should be noted that self editing of this file is prohibited, otherwise it may cause formatting exceptions. If you need to export the data, please use "Export XML to Excel" to export as an EXCEL file to view. To edit, please use "Add/Modify Data" to add new data or modify existing data.