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The Future of Power Management: Nanopower Semiconductor's nPZero IC

In a groundbreaking move for the energy efficiency of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, Norwegian semiconductor manufacturer Nanopower Semiconductor AS has unveiled its first evaluation kit for the nPZero power-saving integrated circuit (IC). This innovative product is set to revolutionize battery-powered applications by potentially reducing energy consumption by up to 90%.

Unleashing Potential in Battery-Powered Devices

The nPZero IC is designed to seamlessly manage power for sensor peripherals while keeping the host microcontroller in a low-power state. When necessary, the IC autonomously wakes the system to handle monitoring tasks, allowing for a significant decrease in power draw typical for always-on battery devices.

With the introduction of the evaluation kit, developers are now equipped with the tools to assess and harness the capabilities of the nPZero IC directly within their applications. The kit features a comprehensive platform for easy configuration and testing, including a main evaluation board compatible with Arduino-formatted microcontroller host boards and several PMOD headers for connecting various sensor boards.

Features of the Evaluation Kit

Nanopower’s evaluation kit comes packed with essential components that enable developers to explore the full feature set of the nPZero IC. Here’s what users can expect:

• - Configurability: The evaluation kit is designed to be user-friendly, featuring easy connection points for a variety of sensor boards, allowing developers to create a range of applications effortlessly.
• - Pre-Configured Sensors: To accelerate the development process, the kit includes an ams OSRAM AS6212 temperature sensor and a STMicroelectronics LIS2DW12 accelerometer board. These pre-configured components simplify testing and application development.
• - Graphical User Interface: The nPZero Configurator tool available with the kit enables users to easily adjust settings and visualize changes without extensive coding. This intuitive interface speeds up the development cycle and enhances productivity.

Early Availability and Market Impact

Beginning in March 2025, Nanopower will start shipping the evaluation kits to its partners, with general availability expected by the end of the second quarter. The nPZero Evaluation Kit will retail for $99, an attractive price for developers looking to explore cutting-edge energy efficiency technologies.

According to Tore Irgens Kuhnle, CEO of Nanopower, “The release of the first evaluation kit for the nPZero IC is a transformative moment for our company. It allows our customers to experience firsthand how Nanopower can assist them in lowering power consumption, paving the way for innovative product development.”

Demonstrations at Embedded World

At the Embedded World exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany, from March 11-13, 2025, Nanopower will be showcasing two demonstration designs featuring the nPZero IC. One demonstration includes a system developed in collaboration with TDK, utilizing the nPZero chip in a continuously operating environmental sensor that utilizes TDK CeraCharge solid-state batteries paired with indoor photovoltaic cells.

The second demonstration features the nPZero Configurator in action, allowing visitors to see real-time configuration changes affecting the power consumption and operational performance of an integrated system powered by the Nordic Semiconductor wireless microcontroller.

About Nanopower Semiconductor

Founded in 2017, Nanopower Semiconductor has dedicated itself to the development of low-power technologies to create scalable and impactful solutions. The company is headquartered in Kristiansand, Norway, with operational offices in Porto, Portugal. With the nPZero technology, they are poised to unlock new potential within the growing IoT market. The anticipated impact of the nPZero IC emphasizes the increasing importance of energy efficiency in modern technology, setting a new standard for battery longevity in smart devices.