A space saving Ship Mode that features a simple, low cost load switch solution for wearables and small portable devices.
The TIDA-00556 is a low-power, compact “ship mode” reference design from Texas Instruments (TI). The design is for wearables and small portable devices. It uses a simple, low-cost load switch. Ship mode essentially prolongs battery life by maintaining it in low power state, during logistics and shelf time. This significantly reduces battery drain while the product is inactive.
It can be used in a wide range of wearables from industrial electronics to consumer electronics like smartwatches, Navigation devices, blood glucose monitor and many other low power, space saving products.
A key component in enabling such low-power states is the use of TPS22916B, a load switch, which provides a more integrated and efficient alternative to discrete FET-based switching solutions.
Load switches are engineered for controlled turn-on, which mitigates harmful inrush currents. When disabled, they exhibit minimal leakage, and in active states, they consume very little power—contributing to extended battery life.
To reduce voltage drop for low-voltage and high-current rails, the device implements a 60-mΩ resistance P-channel MOSFET, reducing the dropout voltage through the device. The device has a fixed slew rate that may reduce or eliminate power supply droop due to large inrush currents.
This solution offers a compact footprint of just 1.89 mm², making it ideal for space-constrained designs across a wide range of applications. With an ultra-low shutdown current of only 10 nA, it significantly reduces power consumption during inactive periods, helping to extend battery shelf life and ensure a smooth out-of-box experience.
The design requires just four components, keeping the bill of materials (BOM) cost low and enabling easy scalability across multiple product platforms. The circuit must reliably operate from battery voltages as high as 4.35 V and remain functional even as the voltage drops during discharge.
To control power states, the microcontroller uses an emulated GPIO signal. This signal can be used to place the system into ship mode by disabling the TPS22916B, effectively cutting off power to reduce energy consumption during shipping or storage. This approach extends battery life while keeping the design compact and efficient.
TI has tested this reference design. It comes with a bill of materials (BOM), schematics, assembly drawing, printed circuit board (PCB) layout, and more. The company’s website has additional data about the reference design. To read more about this reference design, click here.
Also, check 5 Interesting Reference Designs For Wearable Electronics.
