Postgraduate Diploma in Power Path Design and Device Autonomy
800-hour online Postgraduate Diploma in Power Path Design and Device Autonomy. 8 modules covering IEC 62133-2 (safety of portable lithium batteries), UN 38.3 (transport of lithium batteries) and LTspice. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Design power path architectures that power the system while the battery charges.
Select and size high-efficiency DC-DC converters.
Model the device's energy consumption by operating state.
Measure and profile real consumption with precision instrumentation.
Optimise firmware to minimise consumption at rest.
Define the device's safe behaviour when the battery is low.
Verify the reliability and safety of the power subsystem.
Who it's for
- Power management engineer looking to specialise in Power Path Design and Device Autonomy.
- Embedded hardware engineer looking to specialise in Power Path Design and Device Autonomy.
- Low-power firmware engineer looking to specialise in Power Path Design and Device Autonomy.
- Switched-mode power supply designer looking to specialise in Power Path Design and Device Autonomy.
- Battery engineer looking to specialise in Power Path Design and Device Autonomy.
- Product verification engineer looking to specialise in Power Path Design and Device Autonomy.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter consumer electronics.
What you'll work with
- IEC 62133-2 (safety of portable lithium batteries)
- UN 38.3 (transport of lithium batteries)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (batteries)
- IEC 62368-1 (safety of ICT equipment)
- USB Power Delivery (USB-IF)
- Directive (EU) 2022/2380 (common charger)
- JEITA guidelines for safe charging of lithium-ion batteries
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Concept of power path and shared charging1.2Priority between external source and battery1.3Ideal diodes and ORing1.4Dynamic source selection1.5Operation with battery absent or depleted1.6NVDC chargers1.7Input current limiting1.8USB BC1.2 and USB-C detection1.9Comparison of PMICs with power path1.10Workshop: power path analysis of a commercial product
2.1Synchronous buck and PFM/PWM modes2.2Boost and buck-boost for lithium batteries2.3Switched-capacitor converters2.4Ultra-low-noise LDOs and low Iq2.5Selection of inductors and capacitors2.6Efficiency at light load2.7Noise and ripple in analogue circuits2.8Transient response to radio pulses2.9Stability and compensation2.10Laboratory: efficiency curve of a buck converter at µA levels
3.1Current profiles of BLE and LTE-M radios3.2Sensor consumption and sampling frequency3.3Microcontroller: active, sleep and deep sleep3.4Displays and backlighting3.5Leakage currents and pull-ups3.6Duty cycle models3.7Energy budget spreadsheet3.8Usage scenarios and user percentiles3.9Uncertainty in battery life estimates3.10Practice: battery life model of a fitness band
4.1Power analysers and SMUs4.2Shunts and wide dynamic range amplifiers4.3Capturing µs peaks4.4Instrumentation without disturbing the system4.5Correlating consumption with firmware events4.6Measurement in production and end-of-line testing4.7Field consumption telemetry4.8Statistical analysis of real battery life4.9Common measurement errors4.10Laboratory: energy profile with firmware traces
5.1Clock management and frequency scaling5.2Low-power modes in RTOS5.3Sensor-side processing and interrupts5.4Data batching and transmission5.5BLE connection parameters5.6Avoiding polling and busy waiting5.7DMA to reduce active time5.8Signal algorithm optimisation5.9Automated energy regression tests5.10Workshop: reducing the consumption of real firmware
6.1Shutdown and brownout thresholds6.2Progressive degradation of functions6.3Data protection on power loss6.4Recovery after deep discharge6.5Effect of cold temperature6.6Ageing and loss of battery life6.7Communicating status to the user6.8Storage modes and ship mode6.9Medical device requirements6.10Case study: redesigning the shutdown strategy
7.1Worst-case stress analysis7.2SPICE simulation of the power tree7.3Hot-plug tests7.4ESD tests on charging connectors7.5Validation of source transitions7.6Accelerated ageing tests7.7Power design review7.8Requirements traceability documentation7.9Test plan for declared battery life7.10Practice: verification of USB–battery transitions
8.1Specification of target battery life8.2Power path design8.3Converter selection8.4Consumption model and scenarios8.5Firmware optimisation8.6Measurements and comparison with the model8.7Verification report8.8Improvement proposals8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is LTspice, TI WEBENCH Power Designer, Nordic Power Profiler Kit II, MATLAB/Simulink, Python (pandas) for energy profiling, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied through real energy profiling procedures with a power analyser, battery life tests over real-use cycles, and deep-discharge behaviour tests. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Design power path architectures that power the system while the battery charges.
Select and size high-efficiency DC-DC converters.
Model the device's energy consumption by operating state.
Measure and profile real consumption with precision instrumentation.
Optimise firmware to minimise consumption at rest.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with full-time work.
You work with LTspice, TI WEBENCH Power Designer, Nordic Power Profiler Kit II, MATLAB/Simulink, Python (pandas) for energy profiling. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing continuous assessment and the integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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