15th October 2024
Low-power Wi-Fi is a term that specifies solutions designed to minimize energy consumption, particularly in devices that exchange data with the external world at specific time intervals instead of maintaining the connection over long periods. IoT devices take less time to complete the cycle of operation, from waking up, sending data, and sleeping when the connection is already maintained to when it has to be established again. There is no possibility of reconnecting despite connecting low power. This is especially critical in Internet of Things (IoT) applications, where devices utilizing sensors, smart appliances, and monitoring systems often run on batteries and must operate efficiently without frequent recharging. Low Power Wi-Fi enables these devices to stay connected while consuming significantly less energy, extending battery life and reducing operational costs.
Not so long ago, businesses were forced to utilize Zig-Bee, BLE, or LoRa in most battery-powered IoT devices. Still, now Wi-Fi has joined this powerful canon, offering greater flexibility and scalability without purchasing additional gateways or SIM Card, maintaining reliable connectivity and optimized power usage. This technology is essential for smart cities, healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics industries, where energy efficiency is critical to maintaining long-term, sustainable IoT operations.
Wi-Fi Low Power with Renesas Microcontroller DA16200
Brings new features to the old infrastructure
The Renesas DA16200 microcontroller is designed to deliver ultra-low-power Wi-Fi connectivity, making it an ideal solution for IoT devices requiring long battery life and constant wireless communication. This element lets you launch Low-Power Wi-Fi devices without replacing infrastructure with Wi-Fi 6. It works on Wi-Fi 802.11.b / g / n and does not require an AX standard network. This microcontroller integrates advanced power management features, enabling devices to remain connected to Wi-Fi while consuming minimal energy.
The DA16200 supports DPM (Dynamic Power Management), which controls the DTIM (Delivery Traffic Indication Message) parameter to control how often the Wi-Fi should wake up to maintain the connection and simultaneously receive messages. Combining the DA16200 and low-power Wi-Fi for businesses deploying IoT systems helps reduce maintenance costs, improve device longevity, and enable reliable, energy-efficient networks.
Wi-Fi Low Power with Wi-Fi 6
Completely new standard
Low power in Wi-Fi 6 is achieved through specific features designed for energy efficiency, particularly in battery-powered IoT devices. One of the advancements is Target Wake Time (TWT), which allows devices to control how often they wake up to transmit or receive data. This minimizes unnecessary activity, significantly reducing power consumption. Wi-Fi 6’s ability to function in narrow bandwidths is ideal for IoT applications, where devices like sensors or smart home gadgets need to maintain connectivity without quickly draining their batteries, making it an optimal choice for energy-efficient IoT networks.
Which one to choose?
Criteria | Renesas DA16200 |
Wi-Fi 6 |
Best For |
Battery-powered IoT devices, wearables, sensors requiring long-lasting power | Multiple devices, smart offices, and real-time applications |
Power Consumption |
Ultra-low power, in sleep mode from 0,2µA to 3,5µA, average current consumption in connected sleep mode 25-50µA | Moderate power efficiency Average current consumption in connected mode 18-30µA |
Data Transmission |
Up to 72Mbps | Up to 86Mbps |
Latency |
Energy efficiency is prioritized over low latency wake-up time:
in sleep mode 2: 100ms in sleep mode 3: 1ms |
1 millisecond in optimal conditions |
Infrastructure Requirements |
Can be used with existing Wi-Fi infrastructure, no need for 6 GHz upgrades | Requires upgrading routers and devices to support the 6 GHz band |
Depending on the specific needs of your business, both solutions offer distinct advantages in different areas. The Renesas DA16200 is designed for ultra-low-power IoT applications, with power consumption as low as <1 µA in sleep mode and 50 µA on average, enabling battery life of up to 1+ year. In contrast, Wi-Fi 6, optimized for performance, consumes significantly more power, typically in the range of hundreds of milliwatts, making it suitable for high-performance devices that are frequently recharged, like smartphones and laptops. While Wi-Fi 6 offers energy-saving features, it doesn’t match the extreme energy efficiency of the DA16200, which is ideal for long-term, battery-powered IoT devices. On the other hand, the Microcontroller DA16200 is tailored for ultra-low-power IoT applications, such as sensors, wearables, and other battery-operated devices, where long battery life and minimal energy consumption are critical.
Each solution provides unique benefits, allowing businesses to choose the best fit based on their operational requirements and scalability goals.
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