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Obtaining step-by-step time and energy consumption: merging results from power profiler and logic analyser
PPI (Programmable Peripheral Interconnect) / EXTI (External Interrupt) Mapping
Often it is necessary to link an input GPIO directly to an output GPIO at the hardware level, bypassing software delays. This type of operation is available on certain microcontrollers and systems to reduce latency. In some scenarios peripheral devices are attached to a MCU and we want to measure the energy consumption during the peripheral interaction. Instead of raising a GPIO in SW that is connected to the measurement kit (e.g. PPK), one can use the PPI/ EXTI functionality of the MCU.
Examples:
A button press connected to an input GPIO immediately toggles an LED on an output GPIO.
A sensor’s input signal on GPIO triggers another peripheral or an output pin change via an interrupt.
HW-Platforms:
Nordic Semiconductor (nRF Series) – PPI (Programmable Peripheral Interconnect): PPI allows one hardware event (e.g., a GPIO input change) to directly trigger another (e.g., GPIO output) without CPU intervention.
STM32 Microcontrollers – EXTI (External Interrupt) with Direct GPIO Mapping: GPIOs can be mapped to trigger interrupts or interact with timers, enabling fast response without CPU control.
Texas Instruments (TI) – PRU (Programmable Real-Time Unit): On TI microcontrollers, real-time units handle direct GPIO linking and control, ensuring minimal latency between input and output operations.
Measuring Message Sizes
logging, hardware packet sniffing, packet analysis tools (wireshark)
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