kdb341: RTC Battery System Design App Note (CTIN-00009)

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Introduction

In many embedded systems, there is a small battery called the RTC and/or CMOS battery. This battery provides power to the real time clock (RTC) while the embedded system is powered off. The real time clock maintains the system data and time. This battery also potentially preserves BIOS settings while the system is powered off; depending on the CPU/BIOS architecture.

These circuits typically have very small current draw, in the range of 1-10 micro amperes (μA). In a properly designed embedded system, the RTC battery is diode-ORed with a voltage regulator to ensure that the RTC battery is only used when the system is powered off, otherwise during operation the system would source from the on-board regulator.

Connect Tech’s COM Express and Qseven carriers provide either a soldered in battery, external battery connector, or the capability to select between the two options. The product’s User Guide will specify the implementation.

Since these batteries are not rechargeable, the system integrator / end-user must estimate the operating life of the RTC battery and be aware of the implications of a fully drained battery. When fully drained, behaviors could include loss of BIOS settings (system dependent) and/or an incorrect system clock (where the system clock is not synchronized to a network source).

This application note provides information on the characteristics of batteries and how to estimate the life time of RTC batteries when used in a COM Express or Qseven system.

Battery Discharge Characteristics

In general batteries begin discharging (draining) as soon as they are connected to any electronic circuit (load). The load can vary depending on usage.

In addition to discharge due to circuit loading, batteries also drain due to self-discharge. Self-discharge is a chemical reaction phenomenon that occurs in all batteries – regardless of type or chemistry. Self-discharge is constant, it occurs while the battery is in its package or in circuit.

The rate of self-discharge is highly dependent on the battery quality, chemistry, and most importantly, ambient temperature.

Connect Tech only uses high quality, industrial temperature rate lithium coin cell batteries with very low self-discharge characteristics.

In most cases, Connect Tech products will be populated with a Panasonic BR1225A. For a specific details on the battery used, refer to the product user guide.

Specification of the BR1225A battery

Nominal Voltage: 3V

Nominal Capacity: 48mAh

Operating Temperature: -40°C to +125°C

Self-Discharge:

Ambient Temperature Self-Discharge %.Year Theoretical Shelf Life @ Temp in Years
0°C 0.5% 200
20°C 1% 100
40°C 2% 50
60°C 3% 33
80°C 6% 17
100°C 10% 10

At low temperatures, circuit discharge will be the dominant factor in determining battery life.

Estimating RTC Battery Life

Parameters

When calculating the RTC Battery life of a COM Express or Qseven based system, there are several parameters the system designer will need to know

Parameter Description
System IRTCMAX The maximum current drawn by system while off. This is the sum of all devices using VRTC including the COM Express module and any ancillary circuits on the carrier (*)
System VRTCMIN The minimum voltage required for the RTC to function
System TOFF / (TON + TOFF) Percentage of time where the system is used
Battery VBAT Nominal Voltage
Battery CAP Capacity of the battery in mAH
Battery Discharge Curve This discharge curve shows Vbat vs. time. In some cases there will be a curve for each 20°C increment. The curve will show the batteries behavior at as it drains. For example, what is the voltage when the battery is at 5%
Battery Self-discharge Curve This will show how fast a battery will drain when not in use

(*) Connect Tech Inc. carrier products do not have any circuits that use VRTC

Estimation Process

Estimating the battery life can be a complicated process when factoring in temperature, system on/off cycles, and battery discharge characteristics. In some cases, the battery manufacturer may not be release all the necessary information.

First, the battery life is a function of the capacity and the system load.

TLIFE (hours) = CAP / IRTCMAX

Example 1 with BR1225A where IRTCMAX = 0.9 μA

TLIFE (hours) = 48mAh / 0.9 μA = 53333 hours = 6.1 years

Then, the battery discharge curve needs to be considered to determine how long the voltage will remain above VRTCMIN. If the battery discharge curve is unavailable and a cut-off voltage is not provided, then a safe assumption is that the battery will remain above VRTCMIN for 90% of its life. This factor will be referred to as KOP.

TLIFE (hours) = ( CAP x KOP)/ IRTCMAX

Example 2 with BR1225A where IRTCMAX = 0.9 μA

TLIFE (hours) = (48mAh x 0.9) / 0.9 μA = 48000 hours = 5.5 years

If the carrier system is designed only to use the battery when it is off , as is the case with Connect Tech’s carriers, then off time percentage should be factored in. This effectively reduces IRTCMAX

TLIFE (hours) = ( CAP x KOP) / [ IRTCMAX x TOFF / (TON + TOFF) ]

Example 3 with BR1225A where IRTCMAX = 0.9uA & TOFF / (TON + TOFF) = 20%

TLIFE (hours) = ( 48mAh x 0.9) / [ 0.9uA x 20% ] = 240000 hours = 27.4 years

Panasonic actually publishes a battery discharge curve, available in the BR1225A datasheet – see link below:

https://industrial.panasonic.com/cdbs/www-data/pdf2/AAA4000/AAA4000C210.pdf

With a 90uA load @ 125°C, the battery will work for 490 hours above 2V. A rough extrapolation for 0.9 μA is 49000 hours at 125°C. This number is very similar to that calculated in Example 2.

As with any engineering estimation, it is a good practice to add some margin to the end result.

Specifying a battery

If a board mounted BR1225A battery is not sufficient; then the system designer will need to select and design an external battery cable.

Example:

A system designer has a Connect Tech’s CCG011 carrier and a COM Express module where IRTCMAX = 5 μA and requires a ten year life, TLIFE (hours) = 87600. The system is expected to be off 50% of the time.

CAP = TLIFE (hours) x [ IRTCMAX x TOFF / (TON + TOFF) ] / KOP

CAP = 87600 hrs x [0.005mA x 0.3 ] / 0.9

CAP = 243 mAh

A Panasonic BR2330A batter with 255 mAh would be able to provide the exact life time needed

TLIFE (hours) = ( CAP x KOP) / [ IRTCMAX x TOFF / (TON + TOFF) ]

TLIFE (hours) = 91800

Applicable Products

The following is a list of Connect Tech’s carrier products and their battery capabilities. Refer to the product users guide for the most up to date information.

For assistance with integrating your embedded system, please contact [email protected]

Part Number On Board Battery External Battery Header User Guide
CCG007 CR2032 Yes CTIM-00115
CCG008 BR1125A Yes CTIM-00075
CCG010 No Yes CTIM-00120
CCG011/012 BR1225A Yes CTIM-00121
CCG016 BR1225A Yes CTIM-00440
CCG017/018 BR1225A Yes CTIM-00438
CCG020 No Yes CTIM-00120
CCG030 No On breakout board CTIM-00457
CCG060 No Yes CTIM-00470
ELG001 BR1225A
QCG001 CR1225 (socket) No CTIM-00058
QCG002 CR1225 (socket) No CTIM-00060
QCG005 BR1225A Yes CTIM-00068
QCG006 BR1225A Yes CTIM-00068
QCG011/012 BR1225A Yes CTIM-00068
QCG014/015 BR1225A Yes CTIM-00068
QKG202 BR1225A No CTIM-00432
VXG### BR1225A Yes CTIM-00409

 

References and Helpful Links

https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/design/tools/calculators/product-design/battery.cfm
http://www.congatec.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Documents/Application_Notes/AN9_RTC_Battery_Lifetime.pdf

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