Current consumption

As the system is constantly tuned by the PMU described in Power and clock management, estimating the current consumption of an application can be challenging if the designer cannot perform measurements directly on the hardware. To facilitate the estimation process, a set of current consumption scenarios are provided to show the typical current drawn from the VDD supply.

Each scenario specifies a set of operations and conditions that apply to the given scenario. The following table shows a set of common conditions used in all scenarios, unless otherwise is stated in the scenario's description. Similarly, Current consumption scenarios, common conditions for LTE modem describes the conditions used for the modem current consumption specifications. For a list of all scenarios, see Electrical specification.

Peripherals typically share one or more power sources. This results in a current consumption that does not scale linearly with the number of peripherals enabled. For example, the current consumption for an application with two peripherals enabled, is not the sum of the currents reported by their individual peripherals.

Table 1. Current consumption scenarios, common conditions
Condition	Value
Supply	3.7 V
Temperature	25 °C
CPU	WFI (wait for interrupt)/WFE (wait for event) sleep
Peripherals	All idle¹
Clock	HFCLK=HFINT Not running LFCLK=Not running
RAM	No retention
Cache enabled	Yes

Table 2. Current consumption scenarios, common conditions for LTE modem
Condition
Cat-M1 and Cat-NB1 HD FDD mode
Good channel, RF cable, no errors in DL/UL communication
Minimum network response times
Output power at antenna port, single-ended 50 Ω
Modem eDRX current consumption quoted with UICC that allows UICC supply shut down at eDRX intervals. ² ³ ⁴
Modem PSM TAU event energy is measured from the modem PSM wake-up until end of RX inactivity time
All LTE modem current consumption numbers include application core idle mode consumption ⁵

¹ Except for currents reported for a given peripheral. Peripherals' currents are estimated during momentary transmission.

² Required UICC restart current consumption is included.

³ If the UICC used does not support supply shut down, then UICC will remain in clock stop mode. Depending on the UICC used, a clock stop current in the range of 20 μA to 60 μA@3.7 V must be added to get the total average consumption.

⁴ Minimum UICC supply shut down interval and clock stop mode current consumption must be obtained from the UICC supplier.

⁵ Application RAM leakage not included. Application RAM leakage quoted separately under Sleep

Electrical specification

Current consumption during System Disabled


Symbol	Description	Min.	Typ.	Max.	Units
I_{SYSTEM_DISABLED}	ENABLE and VDD_GPIO pins grounded		150		nA

Sleep


Symbol	Description	Typ.	Units
I_MCUOFF0	MCU off, modem off, wake on GPIO and reset	1.4	µA
I_MCUON0	MCU on IDLE, modem off, RTC off	1.8	µA
I_MCUON1	MCU on IDLE, modem off, RTC on	2.2	µA
I_MCUON2	MCU on IDLE, modem off, wake on GPIOTE input (event mode), Constant latency System ON mode	600	µA
I_MCUON3	MCU on IDLE, modem off, wake on GPIOTE input (event mode), Low power System ON mode	18	µA
I_MCUON4	MCU on IDLE, modem off, wake on GPIOTE input (port event)	1.8	µA
I_RAM	RAM retention leakage current of a 32kB block	0.1	µA

Application CPU active current consumption

The application CPU running parameters are obtained using the following compiler version:

Compiler: Arm version 6.16 (armclang)

Compiler flags:

-Wno-unused-command-line-argument --target=arm-arm-none-eabi -c -g -masm=auto -Wno-unused-value -mcpu=cortex-m33 -mfpu=fpv5-sp-d16 -mfloat-abi=hard -fno-rtti -flto -funsigned-char -mcmse -Omax -ffunction-sections


Symbol	Description	Typ.	Units
I_{CPU0_FLASH}	CPU running CoreMark @64 MHz from flash, clock = HFINT, cache enabled	2.7	mA
I_{COREMARK_PER_MA_FLASH}	CoreMark per mA, executing from flash, CoreMark=247	91	CoreMark/mA
I_{CPU0_RAM}	CPU running CoreMark @64 MHz from RAM, clock = HFINT	2.1	mA
I_{COREMARK_PER_MA_RAM}	CoreMark per mA, executing from RAM, CoreMark=239	114	CoreMark/mA

I2S


Symbol	Description	Min.	Typ.	Max.	Units
I_I2S0	I2S transferring data left-channel (mono) @ 16 bit x 16 kHz (CONFIG.MCKFREQ = 32MDIV8, CONFIG.RATIO = 256X), Clock = HFINT		0.69		mA
I_I2S1	I2S transferring data left-channel (mono) @ 16 bit x 16 kHz (CONFIG.MCKFREQ = 32MDIV8, CONFIG.RATIO = 256X), Clock = HFXO		1.65		mA

PDM


Symbol	Description	Min.	Typ.	Max.	Units
I_PDM	PDM receiving and processing data 16KHz, with FREQ = 1.28MHz, MODE.OPERATION = mono		0.71		mA
I_PDM	PDM receiving and processing data 16KHz, with FREQ = 1.28MHz, MODE.OPERATION = mono, clock HFXO		1.67		mA

PWM


Symbol	Description	Min.	Typ.	Max.	Units
I_PWM0	PWM running @ 125 kHz, fixed duty cycle		623.97		µA
I_PWM1	PWM running @ 16 MHz, fixed duty cycle		723.1		µA

SAADC


Symbol	Description	Min.	Typ.	Max.	Units
I_{SAADC_HFXO}	SAADC sampling @ 16 ksps, with high accuracy clock HFXO, acquisition time = 20 µs		1660		µA
I_{SAADC_HFINT}	SAADC sampling @ 16 ksps, with low accuracy clock HFINT, acquisition time = 20 µs		665		µA

TIMER


Symbol	Description	Min.	Typ.	Max.	Units
I_TIMER0	TIMER running @ 1 MHz		503.7		µA
I_TIMER1	TIMER running @ 16 MHz		556.3		µA

SPIM


Symbol	Description	Typ.	Units
I_SPIM0	SPIM transferring data @ 2 Mbps, Clock = HFINT	0.63	mA
I_SPIM1	SPIM transferring data @ 2 Mbps, Clock = HFXO	1.58	mA
I_SPIM2	SPIM transferring data @ 8 Mbps, Clock = HFINT	0.67	mA
I_SPIM3	SPIM transferring data @ 8 Mbps, Clock = HFXO	1.62	mA

SPIS


Symbol	Description	Typ.	Units
I_{SPIS_2M}	SPIS receiving data @ 2 Mbps, Clock=HFINT	0.63	mA
I_{SPIS_2MXO}	SPIS receiving data @ 2 Mbps, Clock=HFXO	1.58	mA
I_{SPIS_8M}	SPIS receiving data @ 8 Mbps, Clock=HFINT	0.67	mA
I_{SPIS_8MXO}	SPIS receiving data @ 8 Mbps, Clock=HFXO	1.62	mA

TWIM


Symbol	Description	Typ.	Units
I_{TWIM_100}	TWIM running @ 100 kbps, Clock=HFINT	0.61	mA
I_{TWIM_400}	TWIM running @ 400 kbps, Clock = HFINT	0.61	mA
I_{TWIM_100XO}	TWIM running @ 100 kbps, Clock = HFXO	1.56	mA
I_{TWIM_400XO}	TWIM running @ 400 kbps, Clock = HFXO	1.56	mA

TWIS


Symbol	Description	Typ.	Units
I_{TWIS,RUN_100}	TWIS transferring data @ 100 kbps, Clock=HFINT	0.60	mA
I_{TWIS1,RUN_400}	TWIS transferring data @ 400 kbps, Clock=HFINT	0.60	mA
I_{TWIS,RUN_100XO}	TWIS transferring data @ 100 kbps, Clock = HFXO	1.55	mA
I_{TWIS,RUN_400XO}	TWIS transferring data @ 400 kbps, Clock = HFXO	1.55	mA

UARTE


Symbol	Description	Min.	Typ.	Max.	Units
I_UARTE,1M	UARTE transferring data @ 1Mbps		819.2		µA
I_UARTE,115K	UARTE transferring data @ 115200 bps		620.6		µA

WDT


Symbol	Description	Min.	Typ.	Max.	Units
I_WDT	WDT started		2.50		µA

Modem current consumption

To estimate specific use cases, see Online Power Profiler for LTE


Symbol	Description	B13 (typ.)	B20 (typ.)	B3 (typ.)	B4 (typ.)	Units
Sleep current consumption, Cat-M1 and Cat-NB1
I_PSM	PSM floor current	2.7	2.7	2.7	2.7	µA
PSM TAU event energy and duration, Cat-M1
E_{PSM_TAU}	Pout 23 dBm, QPSK, resource blocks 6, TBS index 9, UICC included	105	-	-	-	mJ
T_{PSM_TAU}	Pout 23 dBm, QPSK, resource blocks 6, TBS index 9, UICC included	1.5	-	-	-	s
PSM TAU event energy and duration, Cat-NB1
E_{PSM_TAU}	Pout 23 dBm, QPSK, UICC included; UL: 12SC, MCS Index 5 Resource Units 1, Repetitions 1; DL, 12SC, MCS Index 6, Subframes 3, Repetitions 1	550	-	-	-	mJ
T_{PSM_TAU}	Pout 23 dBm, QPSK, UICC included; UL: 12SC, MCS Index 5 Resource Units 1, Repetitions 1; DL, 12SC, MCS Index 6, Subframes 3, Repetitions 1	2.7	-	-	-	s
Average current consumption, radio resource control (RRC) mode, Cat-M1
I_EDRX	eDRX average current, 81.92 s, one PO/PTW, PTW = 2.56 s	18	18	18	18	µA
I_IEDRX	Idle eDRX average current, 655 s, one PO/PTW, PTW = 2.56 s	6	6	6	6	µA
I_{RMC_0DBM}	Uplink 180 kbit/s, Pout 0 dBm, RMC settings as per 3GPP TS 36.521-1 Annex A.2	45	45	45	45	mA
I_{RMC_10DBM}	Uplink 180 kbit/s, Pout 10 dBm, RMC settings as per 3GPP TS 36.521-1 Annex A.2	50	50	55	55	mA
I_{RMC_23DBM}	Uplink 180 kbit/s, Pout 23 dBm, RMC settings as per 3GPP TS 36.521-1 Annex A.2	100	105	115	115	mA
Average current consumption, radio resource control (RRC) mode, Cat-NB1
I_EDRX	eDRX average current, 81.92 s, one PO/PTW, PTW = 2.56 s	37	37	37	37	µA
I_IEDRX	Idle eDRX average current, 655 s, one PO/PTW, PTW = 2.56 s	9	9	9	9	µA
I_{RMC_0DBM}	Pout 0 dBm, QPSK, 1SC, 15 kHz, TX 33% RX 33% ("balanced TX and RX"), RMC settings as per 3GPP TS 36.101 Annex A.2.4	35	35	40	40	mA
I_{RMC_10DBM}	Pout 10 dBm, QPSK, 1SC, 15 kHz, TX 33% RX 33% ("balanced TX and RX"), RMC settings as per 3GPP TS 36.101 Annex A.2.4	40	45	45	45	mA
I_{RMC_23DBM}	Pout 23 dBm, QPSK, 1SC, 15 kHz, TX 33% RX 33% ("balanced TX and RX"), RMC settings as per 3GPP TS 36.101 Annex A.2.4	95	105	110	110	mA
I_{RMC_0DBM}	Pout 0 dBm, BPSK, 1SC, 3.75 kHz, TX 80% RX 10% ("TX intensive"), RMC settings as per 3GPP TS 36.101 Annex A.2.4	50	50	55	55	mA
I_{RMC_10DBM}	Pout 10 dBm, BPSK, 1SC, 3.75 kHz, TX 80% RX 10% ("TX intensive"), RMC settings as per 3GPP TS 36.101 Annex A.2.4	65	65	75	75	mA
I_{RMC_23DBM}	Pout 23 dBm, BPSK, 1SC, 3.75 kHz, TX 80% RX 10% ("TX intensive"), RMC settings as per 3GPP TS 36.101 Annex A.2.4	190	190	225	225	mA
Peak current consumption, nominal operating conditions, Cat-M1
I_{TX_0DBM}	TX subframe, Pout 0 dBm	60	60	65	65	mA
I_{TX_10DBM}	TX subframe, Pout 10 dBm	80	85	90	90	mA
I_{TX_23DBM}	TX subframe, Pout 23 dBm	255	275	295	290	mA
I_{RX_-90DBM}	RX subframe, Pin -90 dBm	45	45	45	45	mA
I_{TX_TRANSIENT}	TX transient	35	35	35	35	mA/µs
Peak current consumption, nominal operating conditions, Cat-NB1
I_{TX_0DBM}	TX subframe, Pout 0 dBm	55	60	65	65	mA
I_{TX_10DBM}	TX subframe, Pout 10 dBm	75	85	90	85	mA
I_{TX_23DBM}	TX subframe, Pout 23 dBm	230	255	275	275	mA
I_{RX_-90DBM}	RX subframe, Pin -90 dBm	35	35	35	35	mA
I_{TX_TRANSIENT}	TX transient	35	35	35	35	mA/µs
Peak current consumption, extreme operating conditions, Cat-M1
I_{TX_PEAK}	TX subframe, Pout >21 dBm, Ant VSWR3	330	355	360	360	mA
I_{TX_PEAK}	TX subframe, Pout >20 dBm, Ant VSWR3, Vbat 3.5 V, Temp 85 °C	355	390	375	375	mA
I_{TX_PEAK}	TX subframe, Pout >20 dBm, Ant VSWR3, Vbat 3.0 V, Temp 85 °C	415	415	435	435	mA
Peak current consumption, extreme operating conditions, Cat-NB1
I_{TX_PEAK}	TX subframe, Pout >21 dBm, Ant VSWR3	280	310	325	325	mA
I_{TX_PEAK}	TX subframe, Pout >20 dBm, Ant VSWR3, Vbat 3.5 V, Temp 85 °C	315	350	365	365	mA
I_{TX_PEAK}	TX subframe, Pout >20 dBm, Ant VSWR3, Vbat 3.0 V, Temp 85 °C	370	405	425	425	mA

GPS current consumption


Symbol	Description	Typ.	Units
I_{GPS_CONTINUOUS}	Continuous tracking, typical peak current without power saving mode	44.3	mA
I_{GPS_CONTINUOUS_PSM}	Continuous tracking, power saving mode	9.6	mA
I_{GPS_SINGLE}	Single shot, one fix every 2 minutes	2.5	mA