Embedded Controllers for Modern Standby
Did you know that even when your cell phone is asleep, it is still able to receive the latest content such as incoming emails, VoIP calls or news articles? When it’s time to wake up the phone, a tap of a button or merely picking up the device wakes it in under a second. As consumers become accustomed to the instant on/instant off user experience they have with their cell phones, they are now demanding similar capabilities in their computers, especially laptops and tablets. However, most laptops take several seconds to wake up, and they do not perform any background activity when they are asleep.
Windows Modern Standby
The Modern Standby feature available in the Windows® 10 Operating System (OS) enables devices such as laptops and tablets to wake up when some type of real-time action occurs, such as when the user wakes up the system or when OS maintenance is performed.
Modern Standby provides two modes. In Connected Modern Standby mode, the network is still active, and the computer will receive Windows updates, calendar updates and even VoIP calls. Your laptop or tablet speakers will also continue playing streamed music. In Disconnected Modern Standby mode, the sleep mode will shut off the network connection. The laptop or tablet won't receive VoIP calls coming in over Wi-Fi®, but will still wake upon a real-time action, such as a calendar reminder or the syncing of a Bluetooth® device.
Modern Standby also offers other benefits to enhance the user experience. Since a system must resume from Standby within 500 ms, it features fast restart times. It is extremely energy efficient. It limits battery drain over 16 hours to no more than 5%, thereby extending the amount of time between battery charges.
Embedded Controllers for Modern Standby
How can we help you provide a computing user experience similar to that of mobile phones? Our Embedded Controllers (ECs) are developed and certified for Modern Standby. To pass Modern Standby tests, these ECs must consume less than 5 mW in Modern Standby for current designs while allowing background activity and fast resume from low-power states. Our MEC1418 and MEC170x ECs are certified with Intel and Microsoft and are on the Platform Component List (PCL) for readiness. We have also completed AMD validation for the MEC170x, making it easier for you to reach your overall computing system power budget. Download the MEC170x data sheet to get started with your development.