Power Consumption

  MEMO CARDs are used in portable, battery-powered applications. Power consumption therefore is a very important fact. For most of MEMO users, data-transfer-security and failure-rates are also critical items.

  Inductive data and energy transfer is performed by inductive coils on the CARD and the DRIVE. The energy we put into the MEMO DRIVE transmission circuit, powers directly the inserted MEMO CARD. The maximum distance between CARD and DRIVE is limited by the transmitted energy and the power consumption on the MEMO CARD. So our design engineers have to balance between low total power consumption and mechanical tolerances for displacement and distance between CARD and DRIVE.

MEMO DRIVEs operate in standby mode as soon as supply voltage is turned on.

Executing a DRIVE Command needs less power than executing a CARD Command.

Executing a CARD Command automatically turns on the power circuit for the inserted MEMO CARD.

The power consumption depends also on the kind of memory operation - writing into the MEMO CARD needs the highest power level.

90 seconds after the last CARD activity the power-circuits are turned off automatically and the supply-current decreases to the standby level.

DRIVE PAR can reduce the power consumption to standby level immediately by setting the hardware-reset on Pin 15.

The most effective way to reduce power consumption to "0" is a simple switch circuitry in the Vcc line! The PC interface board uses a BUZ10 Fet, switching the positive supply-line controlled by the PC software.

100 us after the on-pulse, the MEMO-unit is ready to work.