| Maxim Launches Nano Power RTC MAX31341B
| Extending battery life in space-constrained systems
| Time recording current consumption, 180nA or less

Systems that utilize MCUs for accurate time recording may face issues with wasted battery life in the wearable field. In particular, small battery systems have the lowest energy efficiency.

Maxim Integrated announced on the 24th that it has launched the 'MAX31341B', a nano-power RTC (Real-Time Clock) that offers the industry's smallest package and longest battery life.

Maxim NanoPower RTC removes the MCU's time logging function to further save energy during power-saving cycles and extend battery runtime.

Designers can extend battery life and save power and space in space-constrained systems such as wearables, medical monitors, POS equipment, and mobile terminals.

By providing time recording even during idle periods, the MCU can conserve power while idle and extend battery life.

With a time recording current consumption of 180nA or less, the battery life is long enough for a typical lithium coin cell battery to last for more than 10 years in battery backup mode.

The small solution size is also a feature. External circuitry was minimized by integrating functions such as an integrated load capacitor, trickle charger, power management, and 64-byte RAM.

In addition, the overall system design size is reduced by using an ultra-small 2mm x 1.5mm WLP (Wafer-Level Package).

The MAX31341B provides up to 100 ppm time accuracy within a temperature range of -40 to 85 degrees Celsius based on an external crystal.

Kevin Anderson, a senior analyst at HIS Markit, said, “Designers of small electronic systems are always striving to solve the problem of extending system battery life,” adding, “Solutions that extend battery life by increasing circuit efficiency will attract the attention of engineers designing next-generation systems.”

Binay Bajaj, Business Management Director for the Core Products Group at Maxim Integrated, stated, “Maxim’s real-time clock must always be on,” adding, “The MAX31341B provides accurate timekeeping for space and power-constrained applications and saves power by extending battery life.”

He added, “The MAX31341B is the industry’s only RTC with power management capabilities that relieves the application processor of time recording tasks,” and explained, “It remains turned on even when the device is not in use.”