Ultra-Low Power Circuit Design Techniques for Audio-Based Environmental Sensing in IoT Networks

Abstract: ULP circuit design consideration is critical in enhancing AS-based ESL in IoT networks essential in designing IoT devices to work with minimal power consumption. These designs enable the sensors to operate continuously interesting environments while at the same time utilizing methods like duty cycling, adaptive sampling, and wake-up circuitries. AFE parts help to minimize pre-ADC signal manipulation within the hardware and true and near-threshold processing, as well as subthreshold processing, decreases the power dissipation even more without affecting utility. Energy harvesting including, solar and piezoelectric handling ensures kinetic energy is accumulated for efficient functioning without batteries. Furthermore, incorporating lightweight machine learning (ML) models allows for audio classification and anomalous event detection on the network edge and with low data transfer. In combination, these developments bring more efficient and resource-saving IoT networks providing essential data for applications in environmental and climate change sensing, smart cities, public safety, and industrial security. This approach is essential when building IoT systems that are to last, to meet the increasing need for intelligent, self-sustaining, energy-efficient systems