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A power management integrated circuit (PMIC) coordinates a board’s power: it can regulate and sequence voltage rails, monitor or select power inputs, and expose auxiliary functions to software. Quentin Schulz’s 2017 Embedded Linux Conference presentation, “Power Management Integrated Circuits: Keep the power in your hands,” uses X-Powers AXP20X examples to show how those functions can be represented in Linux. Its examples explain the concepts, but they are not current compatibility or product-availability guidance.
What a PMIC does on a board
Schulz describes a PMIC as handling the board’s power sequence and supplying its components. Depending on the chip, it may also help protect against unsupported overvoltage or undervoltage and manage more than one external power source. Many PMICs are software-controllable, often over I²C, but their functions and interfaces vary by family.
A PMIC is not mandatory. The presentation names Raspberry Pi and Orange Pi as examples of boards without one. A board can instead use other power-management components or arrangements; whether an integrated solution is useful depends on the board’s rails, inputs, sequencing, monitoring, and design constraints.
How regulators supply the board’s voltage rails
Different components need different supply voltages. A PMIC may integrate DC-DC converters and low-dropout (LDO) regulators to provide those rails. When a rail is no longer needed, software may be able to disable it, reducing power consumption. If regulator outputs are adjustable, changing voltage in response to load or temperature can support system power strategies such as CPU or GPU dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS).
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These functions are connected: the board must supply suitable voltages, bring rails up in the right sequence, and manage consumption as the system’s needs change. The exact number of regulators, voltage ranges, current capacity, and controls are chip-specific; the presentation’s AXP20X code examples should not be treated as general PMIC specifications.
Power inputs, charging, and battery information
A PMIC may handle external supplies such as AC adapters, USB, and a battery. Depending on the design, it can select an input based on its state and manage battery charging. The presentation uses the AXP family to illustrate input-voltage handling, but the information available to software differs between AXP20X and AXP22X examples. One family’s readings or controls should not be assumed for another.
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Battery-related blocks may include charging controls, voltage and current measurements, or a fuel gauge. Battery percentage cannot always be calculated reliably from voltage alone: open-circuit voltage depends on battery characteristics, environment, age, charge history, and use. A gauge’s capabilities and estimation method are therefore specific to the device and implementation.
Other functions a PMIC may integrate
Depending on the chip, additional blocks can include an RTC with a backup battery, reset-button handling, GPIO, and ADC channels. Some pins may serve as GPIO or ADC inputs, while ADC channels may report voltage or current. These are possible integrations, not a checklist that every PMIC satisfies.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How Linux represents PMIC functions
One physical PMIC can appear in Linux as several cooperating drivers, each using a relevant subsystem. In Schulz’s AXP20X examples, regulator functions use the Linux regulator framework, while a USB power-supply example exposes properties such as presence and voltage. ADC readings are integrated through the Industrial I/O (IIO) subsystem.
The presentation also shows a Multi-Function Device (MFD) layer coordinating function-specific child drivers, mapping interrupts, and sharing register access through regmap. This arrangement lets Linux handle distinct functions—such as regulators, power supplies, and ADCs—through their respective interfaces rather than treating the chip as one undifferentiated device.
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- 2Pcs 2A153D 2A153D 2A153 DIP8 Power management IC chip
The code and filenames shown are from the presentation’s 2017 Linux source context. They do not establish support, API details, or device-tree requirements for a current kernel. For a real board, check its documentation and the exact chip’s support in the Linux version you plan to use.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to evaluate a PMIC for a real design
The presentation is an explanation of PMIC functions, not a comparison or recommendation of competing models. To evaluate a candidate, consult its datasheet and the board’s design documentation for the specific requirements that matter:
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- Transistor Type: Positive Voltage Regulator Transistor for power regulation.
- Specification: Outputs VO of 1.2~37V and IO of 1.5A, with an input voltage limit (VI) of 40V and a minimum voltage drop (VD) of 3V.
- Application: Widely utilized in power supply designs for output voltage regulation, ensuring consistent power for your electronics.
- Features: Adjustable 3-Terminal voltage regulation, providing flexibility and adaptability in various electronic circuit designs.
- Package: Shipped in an Anti-Static bag for electrostatic protection, ESD safety, and prolonged shelf life.
- Rails: required output voltages, supported ranges, current capacity, and whether each output uses a DC-DC converter or LDO.
- Inputs and battery: supported input sources, source-selection behavior, charging requirements, and which battery measurements or gauge functions are exposed.
- Sequencing and protection: required power-up order and documented overvoltage, undervoltage, or other protection behavior.
- Monitoring and auxiliary functions: needed ADC channels, GPIO, RTC, button handling, and interrupt behavior.
- Software integration: host interface, configuration method, and documented Linux support for the exact chip and kernel version.
- Board constraints: package, thermal limits, layout, lifecycle, and procurement availability.
Schulz’s presentation identifies X-Powers AXP20X as its recurring implementation example, but it does not verify current availability, compatibility with a particular board, or support in a current Linux release. Confirm those details for the exact part, board, and kernel before relying on it.
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