Backscatter forward link enhancement

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for backscatter forward link enhancement. An example method performed by a first wireless communication device includes transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal to a second wireless communication device, the RF signal including a plurality of energy pulses encoded using an encoding scheme to indicate a binary value; and taking one or more actions to maintain a time average voltage associated with the RF signals within a threshold range.

Description

Background Art Technical Field

[0001] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to wireless communications and, more particularly, to techniques for backscatter forward link enhancement.

[0002] Related technologies

[0003] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various telecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts or other similar types of services. These wireless communication systems may employ multiple-access technologies capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available wireless communication system resources with those users.

[0004] Although wireless communication systems have made tremendous technical progress over the years, challenges still exist. For example, complex and dynamic environments can still attenuate or block signals between wireless transmitters and wireless receivers. Therefore, there is a continuous desire to improve the technical performance of wireless communication systems, including, for example: improving the speed and data carrying capacity of communications, improving the efficiency of using shared communication media, reducing the power used by transmitters and receivers when performing communications, improving the reliability of wireless communications, avoiding redundant transmission and / or reception and related processing, improving the coverage area of ​​wireless communications, increasing the number and types of devices that can access wireless communication systems, increasing the ability of different types of devices to communicate with each other, increasing the number and types of wireless communication media available for use, etc. Therefore, there is a need to further improve wireless communication systems to overcome the above-mentioned technical challenges and other challenges. Summary of the invention

[0005] One aspect provides a method for wireless communication by a first wireless communication device. The method includes: sending a radio frequency (RF) signal to a second wireless communication device, the RF signal including a plurality of energy pulses encoded using a coding scheme to indicate a binary value; and taking one or more actions to maintain a time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signals within a threshold range.

[0006] Another aspect provides a method for wireless communication by a second wireless communication device. The method includes: receiving RF signals from a first wireless communication device, the RF signals including a plurality of energy pulses encoded using a coding scheme to indicate a binary value; and taking one or more actions to maintain a time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signals within a threshold range.

[0007] Other aspects provide: an apparatus operable to, configured to, or otherwise adapted to perform any one or more of the foregoing methods and / or those described elsewhere herein; a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the foregoing methods and those described elsewhere herein; a computer program product embodied on a computer-readable storage medium, comprising code for performing the foregoing methods and those described elsewhere herein; and / or an apparatus comprising components for performing the foregoing methods and those described elsewhere herein. By way of example, an apparatus may include a processing system, a device having a processing system, or a processing system cooperating through one or more networks.

[0008] For purposes of illustration, the following description and drawings set forth certain features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The accompanying drawings depict certain features of the various aspects described herein and should not be considered to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0010] Figure 1 An example wireless communication network is depicted.

[0011] Figure 2 An example disaggregated base station architecture is depicted.

[0012] Figure 3 Aspects of an example base station and example user equipment are depicted.

[0013] Figure 4A , Figure 4B , Figure 4C and Figure 4D Various example aspects of data structures for a wireless communication network are described.

[0014] Figure 5 A radio frequency identification system is depicted.

[0015] Figure 6 A diagram of Manchester encoding is provided.

[0016] Figure 7 An example of pulse interval encoding is depicted.

[0017] Fig. 8A An example circuit for envelope detection is illustrated.

[0018] Figure 8B An example amplitude modulated RF signal is illustrated.

[0019] Figure 8C Included is a signal diagram illustrating the inputs to the comparator.

[0020] Fig. 9 The radio frequency signal associated with the pulse spacing encoding and the fluctuation of the time-averaged voltage is illustrated.

[0021] Fig.10 Depicted is a process flow illustrating operations for communicating between a first communication device and a second communication device in a network.

[0022] Fig.11 Depicted are special symbols for maintaining the time-averaged voltage within a threshold range.

[0023] Fig.12 The use of RF on / off flipping to keep the time-averaged voltage within a threshold range is illustrated.

[0024] Fig.13A An example circuit for adjusting a time-averaged voltage is depicted.

[0025] Fig. 13B Depicted is an example of performing voltage regulation before voltage fluctuations occur.

[0026] Fig.14 An example of a (DC) balanced encoding scheme is depicted.

[0027] Fig.15 An example linear feedback shift register circuit for performing data whitening is depicted.

[0028] Fig.16 An example circuit including an envelope detector is depicted.

[0029] Fig.17 A method for wireless communication is described.

[0030] Fig.18 A method for wireless communication is described.

[0031] Fig.19 Aspects of an example communications device are depicted.

[0032] Fig. 20 Aspects of an example communications device are depicted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Aspects of the present disclosure provide apparatus, methods, processing systems, and computer-readable media for backscatter forward link enhancement.

[0034] In some cases, certain devices, referred to as zero-power passive Internet of Things (ZP-IoT) devices, may be capable of harvesting energy from one or more wireless energy sources, such as RF signals, thermal energy, solar energy, and the like. In some cases, when RF signals are used for energy harvesting in ZP-IoT communications, a first device, such as a reader device, may send an energy signal to a second device, such as a ZP-IoT device. The second device may then harvest energy from the energy signal (e.g., using an energy harvesting circuit) and may use this harvested energy to power one or more other components of the second device. After accumulating a sufficient amount of energy, the second device may begin modulating the energy signal with a transmit bit and sending the energy signal back to the first device, which is referred to as a backscatter signal or backscatter communication.

[0035] In some cases, the RF signal for energy harvesting for ZP-IoT communication can be encoded using a coding scheme such as pulse interval encoding (PIE). Generally speaking, PIE is a coding technique that uses different RF on durations and RF off durations to encode binary values ​​(e.g., 0 or 1) into energy pulses, thereby generating energy pulses with different pulse widths. For example, in some cases, a bit value of one (e.g., 1) can be indicated using an energy pulse with a long on duration and a short off duration, while a bit value of zero (e.g., 0) can be indicated using an energy pulse with a short on duration and a short off duration. In some cases, the off duration associated with a bit value of one (e.g., 1) can have the same length as the off duration length of a bit value of zero.

[0036] In some cases, when using the PIE encoding scheme to determine whether a received energy pulse in an RF signal corresponds to a bit value of one or a bit value of zero, a receiver (e.g., a ZP-IoT device) may compare the voltage of the received energy pulse to a time-averaged voltage or a decision threshold. For example, when the voltage of the received energy pulse is greater than or equal to the time-averaged voltage or the decision threshold, the receiver may conclude that the energy pulse corresponds to a bit value of one, and when the voltage of the received energy pulse is lower than the time-averaged voltage, the receiver may conclude that the energy pulse corresponds to a bit value of zero.

[0037] Each received energy pulse may contribute to the time-averaged voltage, which may be problematic in certain scenarios when using the PIE encoding scheme. For example, when energy pulses with the same pulse width (e.g., the same binary bit value) are sent consecutively, these consecutive energy pulses may cause the time-averaged voltage or decision threshold to fluctuate significantly. The fluctuation of the time-averaged voltage may cause the receiver to improperly determine the bit value corresponding to the received energy pulse, thereby impairing decoding performance. For example, an improper determination of the bit value corresponding to the received energy pulse may cause the message to be incorrectly received. The incorrectly received message may necessitate a retransmission, resulting in increased latency and wasted time, frequency, and power resources.

[0038] Therefore, aspects of the present disclosure provide mechanisms and techniques for maintaining a time-averaged voltage, which is used as a decision threshold for determining a bit value corresponding to a received energy pulse. In some cases, these techniques for maintaining a time-averaged voltage may involve using a dedicated symbol that replaces the energy pulse to avoid or reduce fluctuations in the time-averaged voltage. In other cases, the technique for maintaining a time-averaged voltage may involve an indication that the transmitter and receiver adjust the time-averaged voltage to avoid or reduce fluctuations in the time-averaged voltage. In some cases, by maintaining the time-averaged voltage, decoding performance can be improved for ZP-IoT devices. By doing so, increased latency and wasted time, frequency and power resources caused by incorrectly received messages can be avoided. This can improve quality of service (QoS) performance metrics, reduce the total cost of deployment and promote the development of a wide range of useful applications.

[0039] Introduction to wireless communication networks

[0040] The techniques and methods described herein can be used in various wireless communication networks. Although various aspects may be described herein using terms commonly associated with 3G, 4G and / or 5G wireless technologies, various aspects of the present disclosure may also be applicable to other communication systems and standards not explicitly mentioned herein.

[0041] Figure 1 An example of a wireless communication network 100 is depicted in which various aspects described herein may be implemented.

[0042] In general, the wireless communication network 100 includes various network entities (alternatively, network elements or network nodes). A network entity is typically a communication device and / or a communication function performed by a communication device (e.g., user equipment (UE), base station (BS), component of a BS, server, etc.). For example, various functions of a network and various devices associated with and interacting with the network may be considered network entities. In addition, the wireless communication network 100 includes ground aspects, such as ground-based network entities (e.g., BS 102), and non-ground aspects, such as satellites 140 and aircraft 145, which may include airborne network entities (e.g., one or more BSs) capable of communicating with other network elements (e.g., ground BSs) and user equipment.

[0043] In the depicted example, the wireless communication network 100 includes a BS 102, a UE 104, and one or more core networks (such as an evolved packet core (EPC) 160 and a 5G core (5GC) network 190) that interoperate to provide communication services over various communication links (including wired and wireless links).

[0044] Figure 1Various example UEs 104 are depicted, which may more generally include: a cellular phone, a smart phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a satellite radio, a global positioning system, a multimedia device, a video device, a digital audio player, a camera, a game console, a tablet computer, a smart device, a wearable device, a vehicle, an electric meter, a gas pump, a large or small kitchen appliance, a healthcare device, an implant, a sensor / actuator, a display, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Always-On (AON) device, an edge processing device, or other similar devices. UE 104 may also be more generally referred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communication device, a station, a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a remote device, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, and others.

[0045] BS 102 wirelessly communicates with (e.g., transmits signals to or receives signals from) UE 104 via communication link 120. Communication link 120 between BS 102 and UE 104 may include uplink (UL) (also referred to as a reverse link) transmissions from UE 104 to BS 102 and / or downlink (DL) (also referred to as a forward link) transmissions from BS 102 to UE 104. In various aspects, communication link 120 may employ multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology, including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity.

[0046] BS 102 may generally include: NodeB, enhanced NodeB (eNB), next generation enhanced NodeB (ng-eNB), next generation NodeB (gNB or gNodeB), access point, base transceiver station, radio base station, radio transceiver, transceiver function, transmission and reception point, and / or other. Each BS in BS 102 may provide communication coverage for a corresponding geographic coverage area 110, which may sometimes be referred to as a cell, and may overlap in some cases (e.g., small cell 102' may have a coverage area 110' that overlaps with the coverage area 110 of a macro cell). For example, the BS may provide communication coverage for a macro cell (covering a relatively large geographic area), a pico cell (covering a relatively small geographic area, such as a stadium), a femto cell (relatively small geographic area (e.g., a home)), and / or other types of cells.

[0047] Although BS102 is depicted as a single communication device in various aspects, BS102 can be implemented in various configurations. For example, one or more components of the base station may be decomposed, including a central unit (CU), one or more distributed units (DU), one or more radio units (RU), a near real-time (near RT) RAN intelligent controller (RIC) or a non-real-time (non-RT) RIC, to name a few examples. In another example, various aspects of the base station may be virtualized. More generally, a base station (e.g., BS102) may include components located at a single physical location or components located at various physical locations. In an example in which the base station includes components located at various physical locations, the various components may each perform a function so that the various components together implement functionality similar to that of a base station located at a single physical location. In some aspects, a base station including components located at various physical locations may be referred to as a decomposed radio access network architecture (such as an open RAN (O-RAN) or virtualized RAN (VRAN) architecture). Figure 2 An example decomposed base station architecture is depicted and described.

[0048] Different BSs 102 within the wireless communication network 100 may also be configured to support different radio access technologies (such as 3G, 4G, and / or 5G). For example, a BS 102 configured for 4G LTE (collectively referred to as Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)) may interface with the EPC 160 via a first backhaul link 132 (e.g., an S1 interface). A BS 102 configured for 5G (e.g., 5G NR or Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN)) may interface with the 5GC 190 via a second backhaul link 184. The BSs 102 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via the EPC 160 or the 5GC 190) over a third backhaul link 134 (e.g., an X2 interface), which may be wired or wireless.

[0049] The wireless communication network 100 may subdivide the electromagnetic spectrum into various categories, frequency bands, channels, or other characteristics. In some aspects, the subdivision is provided based on wavelength and frequency, where frequency may also be referred to as a carrier, subcarrier, channel, tone, or subband. For example, 3GPP currently defines frequency range 1 (FR1) as including 410 MHz-7125 MHz, which is often (interchangeably) referred to as "below 6 GHz". Similarly, 3GPP currently defines frequency range 2 (FR2) as including 24,250 MHz-52,600 MHz, which is sometimes (interchangeably) referred to as "millimeter wave" ("mmW" or "mmWave"). A base station (e.g., a mmWave base station such as BS180) configured to communicate using mmWave / near mmWave radio bands may utilize beamforming (e.g., 182) with a UE (e.g., 104) to improve path loss and range.

[0050] The communication link 120 between the BS 102 and, for example, the UE 104 may be through one or more carriers, which may have different bandwidths (e.g., 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 15 MHz, 20 MHz, 100 MHz, 400 MHz, and / or other MHz) and may be aggregated in various aspects. The carriers may or may not be adjacent to each other. The allocation of carriers may be asymmetric with respect to DL and UL (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated for DL ​​compared to UL).

[0051] Communications using higher frequency bands may have higher path loss and shorter range than communications at lower frequencies. Figure 1 180) can utilize beamforming 182 with UE 104 to improve path loss and range. For example, BS 180 and UE 104 may each include multiple antennas, such as antenna elements, antenna panels and / or antenna arrays, to facilitate beamforming. In some cases, BS 180 may send beamformed signals to UE 104 in one or more transmit directions 182'. UE 104 may receive beamformed signals from BS 180 in one or more receive directions 182". UE 104 may also send beamformed signals to BS 180 in one or more transmit directions 182". BS 180 may also receive beamformed signals from UE 104 in one or more receive directions 182'. BS 180 and UE 104 may then perform beam training to determine the best receive direction and transmit direction for each of BS 180 and UE 104. It is worth noting that the transmit direction and receive direction of BS 180 may be the same or may not be the same. Similarly, the transmit direction and receive direction of UE 104 may or may not be the same.

[0052] Wireless communication network 100 also includes Wi-Fi AP 150 that communicates with Wi-Fi station (STA) 152 via communication link 154 in, for example, the 2.4 GHz and / or 5 GHz unlicensed spectrum.

[0053] Certain UEs 104 may communicate with each other using a device-to-device (D2D) communication link 158. The D2D communication link 158 may use one or more sidelink channels, such as a physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH), a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), and / or a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH).

[0054] The EPC 160 may include various functional components, including: a mobility management entity (MME) 162, other MMEs 164, a serving gateway 166, a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) gateway 168, a broadcast multicast service center (BM-SC) 170, and / or a packet data network (PDN) gateway 172, such as in the depicted example. The MME 162 may communicate with a home subscriber server (HSS) 174. The MME 162 is a control node that handles signaling between the UE 104 and the EPC 160. In general, the MME 162 provides bearer and connection management.

[0055] Generally, user Internet Protocol (IP) packets are delivered through the Serving Gateway 166, which itself is connected to the PDN Gateway 172. The PDN Gateway 172 provides UE IP address allocation and other functions. The PDN Gateway 172 and the BM-SC 170 are connected to the IP Services 176, which may include, for example, the Internet, an Intranet, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), a Packet Switched (PS) streaming media service, and / or other IP services.

[0056] The BM-SC 170 may provide functionality for MBMS user service provisioning and delivery. The BM-SC 170 may serve as an entry point for content provider MBMS delivery, may be used to authorize and initiate MBMS bearer services within a public land mobile network (PLMN), and / or may be used to schedule MBMS delivery. The MBMS Gateway 168 may be used to distribute MBMS services to BSs 102 belonging to a multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) area broadcasting a specific service, and / or may be responsible for session management (start / stop) and for collecting eMBMS related charging information.

[0057] 5GC 190 may include various functional components, including: access and mobility management function (AMF) 192, other AMFs 193, session management function (SMF) 194, and user plane function (UPF) 195. AMF 192 may communicate with unified data management (UDM) 196.

[0058] AMF 192 is a control node that handles signaling between UE 104 and 5GC 190. AMF 192 provides, for example, Quality of Service (QoS) flow and session management.

[0059] Internet Protocol (IP) packets are delivered through UPF 195, which is connected to IP Services 197 and provides IP address allocation for UEs and other functions for 5GC 190. IP Services 197 may include, for example, the Internet, Intranet, IMS, PS streaming services, and / or other IP services.

[0060] In various aspects, a network entity or network node may be implemented as a converged base station, a decomposed base station, a component of a base station, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a relay node, a sidelink node, to name a few examples.

[0061] Figure 2 An example disaggregated base station 200 architecture is depicted. The disaggregated base station 200 architecture may include one or more central units (CUs) 210 that may communicate directly with a core network 220 via a backhaul link, or indirectly with the core network 220 through one or more disaggregated base station units, such as a near real-time (near-RT) RAN intelligent controller (RIC) 225 via an E2 link, or a non-real-time (non-RT) RIC 215 associated with a service management and orchestration (SMO) framework 205, or both. The CU 210 may communicate with one or more distributed units (DUs) 230 via respective midhaul links, such as an F1 interface. The DU 230 may communicate with one or more radio units (RUs) 240 via respective fronthaul links. The RU 240 may communicate with respective UEs 104 via one or more radio frequency (RF) access links. In some implementations, a UE 104 may be served simultaneously by multiple RUs 240.

[0062] Each of the units (e.g., CU 210, DU 230, RU 240, and near-RT RIC 225, non-RT RIC 215, and SMO framework 205) may include or be coupled to one or more interfaces configured to receive or send signals, data, or information (collectively, signals) via a wired or wireless transmission medium. Each of the units or an associated processor or controller that provides instructions to the communication interface of the unit may be configured to communicate with one or more of the other units via a transmission medium. For example, the units may include a wired interface configured to receive or send signals to one or more of the other units via a wired transmission medium. Additionally or alternatively, the unit may include a wireless interface that may include a receiver, transmitter, or transceiver (such as a radio frequency (RF) transceiver) configured to receive signals on a wireless transmission medium or send signals to one or more of the other units, or both.

[0063] In some aspects, the CU 210 may host one or more higher layer control functions. Such control functions may include radio resource control (RRC), packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP), etc. Each control function may be implemented using an interface that is configured to communicate signals with other control functions hosted by the CU 210. The CU 210 may be configured to handle user plane functionality (e.g., central unit-user plane (CU-UP)), control plane functionality (e.g., central unit-control plane (CU-CP)), or a combination thereof. In some specific implementations, the CU 210 may be logically split into one or more CU-UP units and one or more CU-CP units. When implemented in an O-RAN configuration, the CU-UP unit may communicate bidirectionally with the CU-CP unit via an interface (such as an E1 interface). As needed, the CU 210 may be implemented to communicate with the DU 230 for network control and signaling.

[0064] DU 230 may correspond to a logical unit that includes one or more base station functions for controlling the operation of one or more RUs 240. In some aspects, DU 230 may host one or more of a radio link control (RLC) layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, and one or more high physical (PHY) layers (such as modules for forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation and demodulation, etc.) at least in part according to a functional split such as those defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). In some aspects, DU 230 may also host one or more low PHY layers. Each layer (or module) may be implemented using an interface that is configured to communicate signals with other layers (and modules) hosted by DU 230 or with control functions hosted by CU 210.

[0065] The lower layer functionality may be implemented by one or more RUs 240. In some deployments, the RU 240 controlled by the DU 230 may correspond to a logical node that hosts RF processing functions or low PHY layer functions (such as performing Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Inverse FFT (iFFT), digital beamforming, physical random access channel (PRACH) extraction and filtering, etc.), or both, based at least in part on a functional split (such as a lower layer functional split). In such an architecture, the RU 240 may be implemented to handle over-the-air (OTA) communications with one or more UEs 104. In some implementations, real-time and non-real-time aspects of control plane and user plane communications with the RU 240 may be controlled by the corresponding DU 230. In some scenarios, this configuration may enable the implementation of the DU 230 and the CU 210 in a cloud-based RAN architecture (such as a vRAN architecture).

[0066] The SMO framework 205 may be configured to support RAN deployment and provisioning of non-virtualized network elements and virtualized network elements. For non-virtualized network elements, the SMO framework 205 may be configured to support the deployment of dedicated physical resources for RAN coverage requirements, which may be managed via an operation and maintenance interface (such as an O1 interface). For virtualized network elements, the SMO framework 205 may be configured to interact with a cloud computing platform (such as an open cloud (O-Cloud) 290) to perform network element lifecycle management (such as to instantiate virtualized network elements) via a cloud computing platform interface (such as an O2 interface). Such virtualized network elements may include, but are not limited to, CU 210, DU 230, RU 240, and near-RT RIC 225. In some specific implementations, the SMO framework 205 may communicate with hardware aspects of the 4G RAN (such as an open eNB (O-eNB) 211) via the O1 interface. In addition, in some specific implementations, the SMO framework 205 may communicate directly with one or more RUs 240 via the O1 interface. The SMO framework 205 may also include a non-RT RIC 215 configured to support the functionality of the SMO framework 205 .

[0067] The non-RT RIC 215 may be configured to include logic functions that enable non-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources, artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI / ML) workflows including model training and updating, or policy-based guidance of applications / features in the near-RT RIC 225. The non-RT RIC 215 may be coupled to or in communication with the near-RT RIC 225 (such as via an A1 interface). The near-RT RIC 225 may be configured to include logic functions that enable near-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources via data collection and actions through an interface (such as via an E2 interface) that connects one or more CUs 210, one or more DUs 230, or both, and the O-eNB with the near-RT RIC 225.

[0068] In some implementations, in order to generate an AI / ML model to be deployed in the near-RT RIC 225, the non-RT RIC 215 may receive parameters or external enrichment information from an external server. Such information may be utilized by the near-RT RIC 225 and may be received from a non-network data source or from a network function at the SMO framework 205 or the non-RT RIC 215. In some examples, the non-RT RIC 215 or the near-RT RIC 225 may be configured to adjust RAN behavior or performance. For example, the non-RT RIC 215 may monitor long-term trends and patterns of performance and employ AI / ML models to perform corrective actions through the SMO framework 205 (such as via reconfiguration of O1) or via the creation of RAN management policies (such as A1 policies).

[0069] Figure 3 Aspects of an example BS 102 and UE 104 are depicted.

[0070] In general, BS 102 includes various processors (e.g., 320, 330, 338, and 340), antennas 334a-334t (collectively 334), transceivers 332a-332t (collectively 332) including modulators and demodulators, and other aspects that enable wireless transmission of data (e.g., data source 312) and wireless reception of data (e.g., data sink 339). For example, BS 102 can transmit and receive data between BS 102 and UE 104. BS 102 includes a controller / processor 340 that can be configured to implement various functions described herein related to wireless communication.

[0071] Generally speaking, the UE 104 includes various processors (e.g., 358, 364, 366, and 380), antennas 352a-352r (collectively 352), transceivers 354a-354r (collectively 354) including modulators and demodulators, and other aspects that enable wireless transmission of data (e.g., retrieved from a data source 362) and wireless reception of data (e.g., provided to a data sink 360). The UE 104 includes a controller / processor 380 that can be configured to implement various functions described herein related to wireless communications.

[0072] Regarding example downlink transmissions, BS 102 includes a transmit processor 320 that can receive data from a data source 312 and control information from a controller / processor 340. The control information can be for a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), a physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH), a physical HARQ indicator channel (PHICH), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a group common PDCCH (GC PDCCH), and / or others. In some examples, the data can be for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

[0073] The transmit processor 320 may process (e.g., encode and symbol map) data and control information to obtain data symbols and control symbols, respectively. The transmit processor 320 may also generate reference symbols (such as for a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), a PBCH demodulation reference signal (DMRS), and a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS)).

[0074] The transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor 330 may perform spatial processing (e.g., pre-coding) on ​​data symbols, control symbols, and / or reference symbols, where applicable, and may provide an output symbol stream to a modulator (MOD) in a transceiver 332a-332t. Each modulator in the transceiver 332a-332t may process a corresponding output symbol stream to obtain an output sample stream. Each modulator may further process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, and up-convert) the output sample stream to obtain a downlink signal. The downlink signals from the modulators in the transceivers 332a-332t may be transmitted via antennas 334a-334t, respectively.

[0075] To receive downlink transmissions, UE 104 includes antennas 352a-352r that can receive downlink signals from BS 102 and can provide received signals to demodulators (DEMODs) in transceivers 354a-354r, respectively. Each demodulator in transceivers 354a-354r can condition (e.g., filter, amplify, downconvert, and digitize) a corresponding received signal to obtain input samples. Each demodulator can further process the input samples to obtain received symbols.

[0076] A MIMO detector 356 may obtain received symbols from all demodulators in transceivers 354a-354r, perform MIMO detection on the received symbols if applicable, and provide detected symbols. A receive processor 358 may process (e.g., demodulate, deinterleave, and decode) the detected symbols, provide decoded data for UE 104 to a data sink 360, and provide decoded control information to a controller / processor 380.

[0077] With respect to example uplink transmissions, the UE 104 also includes a transmit processor 364 that may receive and process data from a data source 362 (e.g., for a PUSCH) and control information from a controller / processor 380 (e.g., for a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH)). The transmit processor 364 may also generate reference symbols for reference signals (e.g., for a sounding reference signal (SRS)). The symbols from the transmit processor 364 may be pre-decoded by a TX MIMO processor 366, if applicable, further processed by a modulator in the transceivers 354a-354r (e.g., for SC-FDM), and transmitted to the BS 102.

[0078] At BS 102, uplink signals from UE 104 may be received by antennas 334 a-334 t, processed by demodulators in transceivers 332 a-332 t, detected by MIMO detector 336 if applicable, and further processed by receive processor 338 to obtain decoded data and control information transmitted by UE 104. Receive processor 338 may provide decoded data to data sink 339 and decoded control information to controller / processor 340.

[0079] Memory 342 and memory 382 may store data and program codes for BS 102 and UE 104, respectively.

[0080] Scheduler 344 may schedule UEs for data transmission on the downlink and / or uplink.

[0081] In various aspects, the BS 102 may be described as sending and receiving various types of data associated with the methods described herein. In these contexts, "sending" may refer to various mechanisms for outputting data, such as outputting data from a data source 312, a scheduler 344, a memory 342, a transmit processor 320, a controller / processor 340, a TX MIMO processor 330, a transceiver 332a-332t, an antenna 334a-334t, and / or other aspects described herein. Similarly, "receiving" may refer to various mechanisms for obtaining data, such as obtaining data from an antenna 334a-334t, a transceiver 332a-332t, a RX MIMO detector 336, a controller / processor 340, a receive processor 338, a scheduler 344, a memory 342, and / or other aspects described herein.

[0082] In various aspects, the UE 104 may also be described as sending and receiving various types of data associated with the methods described herein. In these contexts, "sending" may refer to various mechanisms for outputting data, such as outputting data from a data source 362, a memory 382, ​​a transmit processor 364, a controller / processor 380, a TX MIMO processor 366, a transceiver 354a-354t, an antenna 352a-352t, and / or other aspects described herein. Similarly, "receiving" may refer to various mechanisms for obtaining data, such as obtaining data from an antenna 352a-352t, a transceiver 354a-354t, a RX MIMO detector 356, a controller / processor 380, a receive processor 358, a memory 382, ​​and / or other aspects described herein.

[0083] In some aspects, the processor may be configured to perform various operations (such as those associated with the methods described herein) and send (output) data to or receive (obtain) data from another interface configured to send or receive data, respectively.

[0084] Figure 4A , Figure 4B , Figure 4C and Figure 4D Describes a method for use in a wireless communication network such as Figure 1 Various aspects of the data structure of the wireless communication network 100).

[0085] Specifically, Figure 4A is a diagram 400 illustrating an example of a first subframe within a 5G (e.g., 5G NR) frame structure, Figure 4B is a diagram 430 illustrating an example of a DL channel within a 5G subframe, Figure 4C is a diagram 450 illustrating an example of a second subframe within a 5G frame structure, and Figure 4D FIG480 is a diagram illustrating an example of UL channels within a 5G subframe.

[0086] Wireless communication systems may utilize orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with a cyclic prefix (CP) on both the uplink and downlink. Such systems may also support half-duplex operation using time division duplex (TDD). OFDM and single carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) can be used to maximize the system bandwidth (e.g., Figure 4B and Figure 4D The modulation symbols may be transmitted in the frequency domain using OFDM and / or in the time domain using SC-FDM.

[0087] The wireless communication frame structure may be frequency division duplex (FDD), where for a particular set of subcarriers, subframes within the set of subcarriers are dedicated to either DL or UL. The wireless communication frame structure may also be time division duplex (TDD), where for a particular set of subcarriers, subframes within the set of subcarriers are dedicated to both DL and UL.

[0088] exist Figure 4A and Figure 4C In the wireless communication frame structure, TDD is used, where D is DL, U is UL, and X is used flexibly between DL / UL. The UE can be configured with a time slot format (dynamically configured by DL control information (DCI) or semi-statically / statically configured by radio resource control (RRC) signaling) through the received time slot format indicator (SFI). In the depicted example, the 10ms frame is divided into 10 equally sized 1ms subframes. Each subframe may include one or more time slots. In some examples, each time slot may include 7 or 14 symbols, depending on the time slot format. The subframe may also include micro-time slots, which typically have fewer symbols than the entire time slot. Other wireless communication technologies may have different frame structures and / or different channels.

[0089] In certain aspects, the number of slots within a subframe is based on the slot configuration and parameter set. For example, for slot configuration 0, different parameter sets (μ) 0 to 5 allow for 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 slots per subframe, respectively. For slot configuration 1, different parameter sets 0 to 2 allow for 2, 4, and 8 slots per subframe, respectively. Thus, for slot configuration 0 and parameter set μ, there are 14 symbols / slot and 2μ slots / subframe. The subcarrier spacing and symbol length / duration are a function of the parameter set. The subcarrier spacing may be equal to 2 μ × 15kHz, where μ is parameter set 0 to 5. Thus, parameter set μ=0 has a subcarrier spacing of 15kHz, and parameter set μ=5 has a subcarrier spacing of 480kHz. The symbol length / duration is inversely related to the subcarrier spacing. Figure 4A , Figure 4B , Figure 4C and Figure 4D An example is provided for slot configuration 0 with 14 symbols per slot and parameter set μ=2 with 4 slots per subframe. The slot duration is 0.25 ms, the subcarrier spacing is 60 kHz, and the symbol duration is approximately 16.67 μs.

[0090] like Figure 4A , Figure 4B , Figure 4C and Figure 4DAs depicted in , a resource grid may be used to represent a frame structure. Each time slot includes a resource block (RB) (also referred to as a physical RB (PRB)) extending, for example, over 12 consecutive subcarriers. The resource grid is divided into a plurality of resource elements (REs). The number of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

[0091] like Figure 4A As illustrated, some REs carry Figure 1 and Figure 3 The RS may include a demodulation RS (DMRS) and / or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) for channel estimation at the UE. The RS may also include a beam measurement RS (BRS), a beam refinement RS (BRRS), and / or a phase tracking RS (PT-RS).

[0092] Figure 4B Examples of various DL channels within a subframe of a frame are illustrated.The Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) carries DCI within one or more Control Channel Elements (CCEs), each CCE comprising, for example, nine RE Groups (REGs), each REG comprising, for example, four consecutive REs in an OFDM symbol.

[0093] The primary synchronization signal (PSS) may be in symbol 2 of a particular subframe of a frame. The PSS is transmitted by a UE (e.g., Figure 1 and Figure 3 104) is used to determine subframe / symbol timing and physical layer identity.

[0094] A Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) may be within symbol 4 of a particular subframe of a frame. The SSS is used by the UE to determine the physical layer cell identity group number and radio frame timing.

[0095] Based on the physical layer identifier and the physical layer cell identifier group number, the UE can determine the physical cell identifier (PCI). Based on the PCI, the UE can determine the location of the aforementioned DMRS. The physical broadcast channel (PBCH) carrying the master information block (MIB) can be logically grouped with the PSS and SSS to form a synchronization signal (SS) / PBCH block. The MIB provides the system frame number (SFN) and the number of RBs in the system bandwidth. The physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system information (such as system information blocks (SIBs)) that is not sent via the PBCH, and / or paging messages.

[0096] like Figure 4CAs illustrated, some REs carry DMRS for channel estimation at the base station (indicated as R for one particular configuration, but other DMRS configurations are possible). The UE may send DMRS for PUCCH and DMRS for PUSCH. The PUSCH DMRS may be sent, for example, in the first one or two symbols of the PUSCH. The PUCCH DMRS may be sent in different configurations depending on whether a short PUCCH or a long PUCCH is sent and depending on the specific PUCCH format used. The UE 104 may send a sounding reference signal (SRS). The SRS may be sent, for example, in the last symbol of a subframe. The SRS may have a comb structure, and the UE may send the SRS on one of the comb structures in the comb structure. The SRS may be used by the base station for channel quality estimation to achieve frequency-dependent scheduling of the UL.

[0097] Figure 4D Examples of various UL channels within a subframe of a frame are illustrated. The PUCCH may be located at a position as indicated in one configuration. The PUCCH carries uplink control information (UCI), such as scheduling requests, channel quality indicator (CQI), precoding matrix indicator (PMI), rank indicator (RI), and HARQ ACK / NACK feedback. The PUSCH carries data and may additionally be used to carry a buffer status report (BSR), a power headroom report (PHR), and / or UCI.

[0098] An Introduction to Energy Harvesting in RFID Systems

[0099] Figure 5 A radio frequency identification (RFID) system 500 is shown. As shown, the RFID system 500 includes an RFID reader 510 and an RFID tag 550. The RFID reader 510 may also be referred to as an interrogator or a scanner. The RFID tag 550 may also be referred to as an RFID tag or an electronic tag.

[0100] The RFID reader 510 includes an antenna 520 and an electronics unit 530. The antenna 520 radiates signals sent by the RFID reader 510 and receives signals from RFID tags and / or other devices. The electronics unit 530 may include a transmitter and a receiver for reading RFID tags (such as RFID tag 550). The same pair of transmitter and receiver (or another pair of transmitter and receiver) may support two-way communication with a wireless network, wireless device, etc. The electronics unit 530 may include processing circuitry (e.g., a processor) to perform processing on data sent and received by the RFID reader 510.

[0101] As shown, the RFID tag 550 includes an antenna 560 and a data storage element 570. The antenna 560 radiates the signal sent by the RFID tag 550 and receives the signal from the RFID reader 510 and / or other devices. The data storage element 570 stores the information of the RFID tag 550 in, for example, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or another type of memory. The RFID tag 550 may also include an electronic unit that processes the received signal and generates a signal to be sent. The RFID tag 550 may be a passive RFID tag without a battery. In this case, induction may be used to power the RFID tag 550. For example, in some cases, the magnetic field from the signal sent by the RFID reader 510 may induce a current in the RFID tag 550, which may then operate based on the induced current. The RFID tag 550 may radiate its signal in response to receiving a signal from the RFID reader 510 or some other device.

[0102] In one example, the RFID tag 550 may be read by placing the RFID reader 510 near the RFID tag 550. The RFID reader 510 may radiate a first signal 525 via the antenna 520. In some cases, the first signal 525 may be referred to as an interrogation signal or an energy signal. In some cases, the energy of the first signal 525 may be coupled from the RFID reader antenna 520 to the RFID tag antenna 560 via magnetic coupling and / or other phenomena. In other words, the RFID tag 550 may receive the first signal 525 from the RFID reader 510 via the antenna 560, and the energy of the first signal 525 may be collected using the energy harvesting circuit 555 and used to power the RFID tag 550.

[0103] For example, the energy of the first signal 525 received by the RFID tag 550 can be used to power the microprocessor 545 of the RFID tag 550. The microprocessor 545 can then retrieve the information stored in the data storage element 570 of the RFID tag 550 and transmit the retrieved information via the second signal 535 using the antenna 560. For example, in some cases, the microprocessor 545 can generate the second signal 535 by modulating a baseband signal (e.g., a baseband signal generated using the energy of the first signal 525) with the information retrieved from the data storage element 570. In some cases, this second signal 535 can be referred to as a backscatter modulated information signal. Thereafter, as noted, the microprocessor 545 transmits the second signal 535 to the RFID reader 510. The RFID reader 510 can receive the second signal 535 from the RFID tag 550 via the antenna 520, and can process (e.g., demodulate) the received signal to obtain the information of the data storage element 570 transmitted in the second signal 535.

[0104] In some cases, the RFID system 500 may be designed to operate at 13.56 MHz or some other frequency (e.g., the 900 MHz ultra-high frequency (UHF) band). The RFID reader 510 may have a specified maximum transmit power level, which may be regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States or other regulatory agencies in other countries. The specified maximum transmit power level of the RFID reader 510 may limit the distance at which the RFID tag 550 can be read by the RFID reader 510.

[0105] Aspects related to enhancement of backscatter forward link communications

[0106] Wireless technology is increasingly useful in industrial applications such as ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) and machine-type communications (MTC). In such and other fields, it is desirable to support devices that can collect energy from alternative energy sources (e.g., instead of batteries or other energy storage devices (such as capacitors) or in combination with batteries or other energy storage devices). For example, in some cases, these devices may not include local power storage components and may alternatively collect energy from objects (such as RF signals, thermal energy, solar energy). In some cases, these devices may be referred to as passive IoT (PIoT) devices or more generally as zero-power Internet of Things (ZP-IoT) devices. ZP-IoT devices may use RFID type technology and therefore may not include a local power supply. Instead, ZP-IoT devices may collect energy from radio signals (these radio signals are emitted from reader devices such as network entities or user equipment (UE)) for performing data collection, transmission, and distributed computing.

[0107] ZP-IoT devices may have different use cases. For example, one ZP-IoT use case includes an industrial sensor use case where replacing the battery of a communication device may be very difficult or undesirable (e.g., for safety monitoring or fault detection in a smart factory, infrastructure, or environment). Another ZP-IoT use case includes a smart logistics / warehousing use case where, for example, extremely low-cost, small-size, maintenance-free, durable, long-life communication devices are used to perform automatic asset management in a factory. Another ZP-IoT use case includes a smart home network for home item management, wearables, and environmental monitoring (e.g., a wearable device for medical monitoring where the wearable device does not require battery replacement).

[0108] As described above, the ZP-IoT device may be capable of harvesting energy from one or more wireless energy sources (such as RF signals, thermal energy, solar energy, etc.). In some cases, when RF signals are used to harvest energy, the first device (e.g., BS 102, as described above) Figure 2The decomposed BS described herein, UE 104, or any other device described herein capable of transmitting wireless signals) may transmit an energy signal to a second device such as a ZP-IoT device (e.g., UE 104, RFID tag 550, etc.). The second device may then harvest energy from the energy signal (e.g., using an energy harvesting circuit such as Figure 5 The energy collection circuit 555 illustrated is provided and this collected energy can be used to power one or more other components of the second device. In some cases, a portion of the collected energy can be used to charge a local energy storage device of the second device for later use (i.e., the collected energy can be stored in a local power storage component). After accumulating a sufficient amount of energy, the second device can begin to reflect the energy signal radiated onto the second device, which is referred to as a backscatter signal or backscatter communication. When reflecting the energy signal, the second device can modulate a specific switching pattern corresponding to a set of transmitted bits onto the energy signal. The first device or a third device (e.g., a reader device) can detect and demodulate the reflected pattern to obtain the set of transmitted bits.

[0109] In some cases, the RF signal for energy harvesting for ZP-IoT communication can be encoded using a coding scheme. In some cases, the coding scheme can include a Manchester coding scheme, a pulse interval encoding (PIE) scheme, or another coding scheme for RFID-based communication.

[0110] Figure 6 A diagram of Manchester encoding is provided. In Manchester encoding, each data bit may be represented by an energy pulse transition from a "low" voltage (e.g., 0 or "off") to a "high" voltage (e.g., 1 or "on") (e.g., low to high) or from a high voltage to a low voltage (e.g., high to low). The amount of time that the energy pulse remains high or low may be equal. In this way, Manchester encoding guarantees a 50% on duty cycle. Manchester encoding also has a constant average DC power and can support RFID communications using semi-passive tags.

[0111] In some cases, different types of Manchester encoding may be used. Figure 6As shown at 602 in the first type of Manchester encoding, the first type of Manchester encoding uses the GEThomas convention of Manchester encoding, wherein a transition from "1" to "0" (high to low) encodes a data bit value of "1", and a transition from "0" to "1" (low to high) encodes a data bit value of "0". This first type of Manchester encoding involves an exclusive OR (XNOR) logic operation between a data signal 608 (e.g., including data bits for encoding) and a clock signal 606. For example, as shown at 602, when a bit value of 1 in the data signal 608 is to be transmitted, the bit value 1 can be encoded using the first type of Manchester encoding and represented by a transition from high to low. When a bit value of 0 in the data signal 608 is to be transmitted, the bit value 0 can be encoded using the first type of Manchester encoding and represented by a transition from low to high.

[0112] The second type of Manchester encoding is Figure 6 604 in. The second type of Manchester encoding uses the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 convention for Manchester encoding, in which a transition from "1" to "0" (high to low) encodes a data bit value of "0", while a transition from "0" to "1" (low to high) encodes a data bit value of "1". This second type of Manchester encoding involves an exclusive OR (XOR) operation performed between the data signal 608 and the clock signal 606. For example, as shown at 604, when a bit value of 1 in the data signal 608 is to be transmitted, the bit value 1 can be encoded using the second type of Manchester encoding and represented by a transition from low to high. When a bit value of 0 in the data signal 608 is to be transmitted, the bit value 0 can be encoded using the second type of Manchester encoding and represented by a transition from high to low.

[0113] In some cases, the Manchester encoding scheme can support RFID-based communications through semi-passive tags. Semi-passive tags (also known as battery-assisted passive tags) are based on the same principles as passive tags, but these semi-passive tags include batteries that help extend the communication range and tag memory. In some cases, semi-passive tags may also include sensors. However, since Manchester encoding maintains a constant average DC power, it may not be supported by RFIDs with passive tags (such as ZP-IoT devices). For example, as described above, Manchester encoding only guarantees a 50% "on" duty cycle, which may not be enough to supply the necessary energy to power a passive tag (e.g., the higher the on duty cycle, the more energy that can be collected and used to power a passive tag).

[0114] Therefore, to help avoid issues with Manchester encoding, another type of encoding scheme that can be used is PIE encoding as described above. PIE is an encoding technique that uses different RF on durations and RF off durations to encode binary bit values ​​(e.g., 0 or 1) into energy pulses, thereby generating energy pulses with different pulse widths. In some cases, PIE can guarantee an "on" duty cycle of at least 63%, which provides significantly more energy to passive tags. Using PIE may be advantageous for RFIDs with passive tags because a higher percentage of "on" duty cycle can provide passive tags with more energy to collect and use.

[0115] Figure 7 An example of PIE encoding that can be used for RFID-based communications is depicted. As shown, when using PIE encoding, binary bit values ​​(e.g., 1 and 0) can be represented using variable pulse widths that can be controlled by Tari values ​​that define a given minimum pulse duration or interval and x-value parameters that define the difference in pulse duration between binary bit values ​​1 and 0.

[0116] For example, as in Figure 7 As shown at 704 in FIG. 1 , a bit value of one (e.g., 1) may be indicated or represented using an energy pulse having a long on duration and a short off duration. Conversely, as shown at 702, a bit value of zero may be indicated using an energy pulse having a short on duration and a short off duration. In other words, the pulse width (PW) at the on duration associated with a bit value of 1 may be longer than the pulse width at the on duration associated with a bit value of 0. In some cases, as shown, the off duration associated with a bit value of one may have the same length as the off duration of a bit value of zero.

[0117] When a data bit is sent over a wireless channel and received by a passive device such as a ZP-IoT device, the ZP-IoT device may need to perform a 0-1 decision making procedure to determine whether the received energy pulse is high (e.g., 1) or low (e.g., 0). This 0-1 decision making procedure is about Fig. 8A , Figure 8B and Figure 8C Describing.

[0118] For example, Fig. 8A An example circuit 800 that can be used for envelope detection and 0-1 decision making is illustrated. As shown, the circuit 800 includes an envelope detector 802 that can be configured to receive an amplitude modulated RF signal 814. The envelope detector 802 can then perform envelope detection on the received amplitude modulated RF signal 814 and output the envelope signal 804 and an average generated output signal (AVG GEN) 806. The envelope signal 804 includes a plurality of energy pulses and represents the instantaneous voltage of the received amplitude modulated RF signal 814, while the average generated output signal 806 represents the time averaged received voltage of the signal received by the envelope detector 802.

[0119] As shown, the averaged output signal 806 may be input to a low pass filter (LPF) 808. The LPF 808 passes signals having frequencies below a selected threshold frequency and attenuates signals having frequencies above the threshold frequency. The exact frequency response of the filter may depend on the specific filter design (e.g., the selected threshold frequency). Fig. 8A As shown in FIG. 8 , LPF 808 takes as input the average generated output signal 806 from envelope detector 802 and outputs a time average voltage 810 having a frequency above a threshold frequency that is attenuated. Circuit 800 also includes a comparator 812. Fig. 8A As shown in FIG. 8 , the comparator 812 is configured to receive as inputs the envelope signal 804 (e.g., instantaneous voltage) of the envelope detector 802 and the output of the LPF 808 (e.g., time-averaged voltage 810). The comparator 812 can then compare the envelope signal 804 with the time-averaged voltage 810 to perform a 0-1 decision making regarding the energy pulses in the envelope signal 804 and output a demodulated signal 820.

[0120] Figure 8B This example shows that Fig. 8A 800 is an example amplitude modulated RF signal 814 received by the circuit 800 illustrated in FIG. 814. As shown, to represent binary bit values ​​(e.g., 0 and 1), the amplitude of the amplitude modulated RF signal 814 may vary over time, thereby generating an envelope signal 804 that includes a plurality of energy pulses and represents the instantaneous voltage of the amplitude modulated RF signal 814. As described above, this envelope signal 804 may be detected and output by the envelope detector 802, which may then be used by the comparator 812 to perform a 0-1 decision making based on the time-averaged voltage 810 associated with the received amplitude modulated RF signal 814.

[0121] Figure 8C 804 and the time-averaged voltage 810 as a decision threshold for determining whether an energy pulse in the envelope signal 804 is high or low.

[0122] For example, as in Figure 8C Time t 1 As shown in FIG. 8 , when the energy pulse (e.g., instantaneous voltage) in the envelope signal 804 is greater than the time-averaged voltage 810 (e.g., the decision threshold), the comparator 812 is configured to output a “high” signal (e.g., 1). Conversely, at time t 2 As shown in FIG. 8 , when the energy pulse (eg, instantaneous voltage) in the envelope signal 804 is less than the time-averaged voltage 810, the comparator 812 is configured to output a “low” signal (eg, 0). Figure 8C As can be seen in FIG. 8 , over time, the demodulated signal 820 forms a pattern of high energy pulses and low energy pulses with varying widths, via which the bit values ​​can be encoded using PIE encoding.

[0123] In some cases, each received energy pulse in the envelope signal 804 may contribute to the time-averaged voltage 810, which may be problematic in certain scenarios when the PIE encoding scheme is used. For example, when energy pulses with the same pulse width (e.g., the same binary bit value) are sent continuously, these continuous energy pulses may cause the time-averaged voltage 810 or the decision threshold to fluctuate significantly. Fluctuations in the time-averaged voltage 810 may cause a receiver (such as a ZP-IoT device) to improperly determine the bit value corresponding to the received energy pulse, thereby impairing decoding performance. For example, an improper determination of the bit value corresponding to the received energy pulse may cause a message to be incorrectly received. An incorrectly received message may require retransmission, resulting in increased latency and wasted time, frequency, and power resources.

[0124] Fig. 9 A first RF signal 902 associated with PIE encoding and fluctuations in time-averaged voltage is illustrated. As shown, the first RF signal 902 includes a plurality of energy pulses for indicating bit values, as discussed above.

[0125] As described above, when sending multiple continuous identical energy pulses, some coding schemes may be susceptible to fluctuations in the time-averaged voltage. For example, as illustrated in the figure, during time period 906, three energy pulses with the same pulse width 904 will be sent continuously. As shown, these three energy pulses are associated with a bit value 1 indicated by using a long opening time in PIE, as discussed above. As shown, these continuous long opening times associated with these three energy pulses increase the duty cycle of the first RF signal 902. This increased duty cycle of the first RF signal 902 then increases the time-averaged voltage 908 associated with the first RF signal 902 during time period 906. In addition, the increase in the time-averaged voltage 908 during time period 906 causes a reduction in the noise margin 910 for 0-1 decision making. When there is strong interference, this reduction in the noise margin 910 may cause problems with 0-1 decision making. For example, this interference may cause the instantaneous voltage of an energy pulse associated with bit value 1 sent in first RF signal 902 during time period 906 to appear lower than the time average voltage 908, resulting in erroneous 0-1 decision making and this bit value 1 being interpreted as 0.

[0126] Therefore, aspects of the present disclosure provide mechanisms and techniques for maintaining a time-averaged voltage, which is used as a decision threshold for determining a bit value corresponding to a received energy pulse. In some cases, these techniques for maintaining a time-averaged voltage may involve using a dedicated symbol that replaces the energy pulse to avoid or reduce fluctuations in the time-averaged voltage. In other cases, the technique for maintaining a time-averaged voltage may involve an indication that the transmitter and receiver adjust the time-averaged voltage to avoid or reduce fluctuations in the time-averaged voltage. In some cases, by maintaining the time-averaged voltage, decoding performance can be improved for ZP-IoT devices. By doing so, increased latency and wasted time, frequency and power resources caused by incorrectly received messages can be avoided. This can improve quality of service (QoS) performance metrics, reduce the total cost of deployment and promote the development of a wide range of useful applications.

[0127] Example Operations of Entities in a Communication Network

[0128] Fig.10 Depicted is a process flow illustrating an example of a communication operation 1000 for performing communication between a first wireless communication device 1002 and a second wireless communication device 1004 in a network. In some aspects, the first wireless communication device 1002 may be an example of an RF source device (e.g., a device capable of transmitting RF energy signals), such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 BS102, about depicting and describing Figure 2 Depicted and described exploded base station or relating to Figure 1 and Figure 3Similarly, the second wireless communication device 1004 may be a UE 104 related to Figure 1 and Figure 3 Another UE 104 depicted and described, or a ZP-IoT device as described herein, or about Figure 5 An example of an RFID tag 550 is depicted and described.

[0129] Operations 1000 begin in step 1010, where a first wireless communication device 1002 transmits RF signals that may be received by a second wireless communication device 1004. In some cases, the RF signals may include a plurality of energy pulses encoded using a coding scheme to indicate a binary value (e.g., 0 or 1). In some cases (e.g., based on the coding scheme), the energy pulses may have different pulse widths to indicate binary values ​​(e.g., "0" and "1"). In some cases, the coding scheme may include a PIE scheme.

[0130] In step 1020, the first wireless communication device 1002 takes one or more actions to maintain the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within a threshold range. Similarly, in step 1030, the second wireless communication device 1004 takes one or more actions to maintain the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within a threshold range. In some cases, the one or more actions taken by the second wireless communication device in step 1030 to maintain the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal may be performed in addition to the one or more steps taken by the first wireless communication device 1002 to maintain the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal. In some cases, the one or more actions taken by the first wireless communication device 1002 and the second wireless communication device 1004 in steps 1020 and 1030 may be performed before or after the RF signal is sent in step 1010.

[0131] In some cases, the first wireless communication device 1002 may determine that a threshold number (e.g., ≥X) of energy pulses having the same pulse width are to be transmitted consecutively. For example, in some cases, the threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width may include a threshold number of energy pulses encoded to represent a bit value of 1 or a threshold number of energy pulses encoded to represent a bit value of 0. In some cases, the threshold number of energy pulses may be dynamically configured or preconfigured. For example, in some cases, when the first wireless communication device 1002 includes a UE (e.g., UE 104), a network entity (e.g., BS 102) may send configuration information indicating a threshold number of energy pulses to the UE. In some cases, when the first wireless communication device 1002 includes a UE (e.g., UE 104), the threshold number of energy pulses may be preconfigured in the first wireless communication device 1002 by a manufacturer or retailer of the first wireless communication device 1002. Similarly, in some cases, the first wireless communication device 1002 may send configuration information indicating a threshold number of energy pulses to the second wireless communication device 1004. In some cases, the threshold number of energy pulses may be preconfigured in the second wireless communication device 1004 by a manufacturer or retailer of the second wireless communication device 1004 .

[0132] As described above, when a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width are transmitted in succession, the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal may fluctuate, resulting in reduced noise margin and a significant increase in the likelihood of erroneous decoding (e.g., erroneous 0-1 decision making) at the second wireless communication device 1004.

[0133] In some cases, when the first wireless communication device 1002 determines that a threshold number of energy pulses are to be transmitted consecutively, in order to reduce fluctuations and keep the associated time-averaged voltage within a threshold range, the first wireless communication device 1002 sends a threshold number of energy pulses in a continuous manner. Fig.10 Taking one or more actions in step 1020 of may include sending a special symbol in the RF signal to the second wireless communication device 1004 in place of at least one energy pulse in the threshold number of energy pulses. In some cases, the special symbol may be represented by an RF on duration and an RF off duration that are different from the RF on duration and RF off duration used to represent a bit value of zero and a bit value of one.

[0134] In some cases, such as Fig.11 As illustrated, the dedicated symbol may include a dedicated NULL symbol. For example, Fig.11 A first RF signal 1110 and a second RF signal 1120 are included, the second RF signal illustrating the effect of sending a special symbol, such as a null symbol, replacing at least one energy pulse in a threshold number of energy pulses. Fig.11In the example shown, the threshold number of energy pulses is configured as three (eg, X=3).

[0135] As can be seen at 1130, three energy pulses 1121, 1122, and 1123 having the same pulse width 1131 (e.g., representing a bit value of 1) are scheduled to be transmitted consecutively in the first RF signal 1110. However, although the three energy pulses 1121, 1122, and 1123 are scheduled to be transmitted consecutively in the first RF signal 1110, the dedicated symbol is not transmitted within the first RF signal 1110. Therefore, the time-averaged voltage 1132 associated with the first RF signal 1110 exceeds the threshold range 1112 (e.g., due to the increased duty cycle associated with the bit value of 1), which can cause the decoding performance at the second wireless communication device 1004 to be degraded.

[0136] However, in Fig.11 In the second RF signal 1120 in FIG. 1 , the first wireless communication device 1002 transmits a null symbol 1133 in order to keep the time average voltage 1134 within the threshold range 1135. For example, as shown, compared with the first RF signal 1110, the null symbol 1133 is transmitted to replace the transmission of the energy pulse 1123. Therefore, the null symbol 1133 can be transmitted between the energy pulse 1122 and the energy pulse 1123, thereby allowing the time average voltage 1134 to remain within the threshold range 1135.

[0137] As shown, the null symbol 1133 may include an energy pulse having a relatively short on duration 1136 followed by a relatively long off duration 1137. In some cases, the relatively long on duration 1137 may be configured to offset any increase in the time-averaged voltage 1134 due to the long on duration associated with the energy pulses 1121, 1122, and 1123 used to indicate a bit value of 1. Thus, a larger noise margin may be maintained, thereby reducing the likelihood that a comparator (e.g., comparator 812) of the second wireless communication device 1004 will make an erroneous 0-1 decision.

[0138] It should be understood that although the above-described techniques for sending a dedicated symbol by replacing at least one energy pulse among a threshold number of energy pulses are described with respect to continuously sent energy pulses representing a bit value of 1, these techniques are equally applicable to continuously sent energy pulses representing a bit value of 0.

[0139] In some cases, transmitting the dedicated symbol may include transmitting an inverted version of at least one of the threshold number of energy pulses, which may be referred to as an on / off flip. Fig.12 The use of RF on / off flipping to maintain a time-averaged voltage within a threshold range is illustrated in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0140] For example, Fig.12 As shown, three energy pulses 1202, 1204, and 1206 having the same pulse width (e.g., representing a bit value of 1) are scheduled to be transmitted successively by the first wireless communication device 1002 in the first RF signal 1200. In this case, instead of transmitting the three energy pulses 1202, 1204, and 1206 successively (e.g., which would otherwise cause the time-averaged voltage 1208 of the first RF signal 1200 to exceed the threshold range 1210), the first wireless communication device 1002 "flips" and transmits an inverse version 1212 of the energy pulse 1206. As can be seen, the inverse version 1212 increases the off duration of the first RF signal 1200 in order to offset any increase in the time-averaged voltage 1208 due to the long on duration associated with the energy pulses 1202, 1204, and 1206, thereby allowing the time-averaged voltage 1208 to remain within the threshold range 1210. Thus, a larger noise margin may be maintained, thereby reducing the likelihood that a comparator (eg, comparator 812) of the second wireless communication device 1004 may make an erroneous 0-1 decision.

[0141] It should be understood that while the consecutive energy pulses 1202, 1204, and 1206 are illustrated as representing a bit value of 1, the technique for sending an inverse version is equally applicable to three consecutive energy pulses representing a bit value of 0. For example, in this case, at least one of the energy pulses representing the bit value of 0 may be flipped to an energy pulse representing the bit value of 1.

[0142] In some cases, the inverse version 1212 of the energy pulse 1206 may be considered as an information bit or a non-information bit. If the inverse version 1212 of the energy pulse 1206 is considered as an information bit, the inverse version 1212 of the energy pulse 1206 may be modulated as a "1" or a "0". If the inverse version 1212 of the energy pulse 1206 is considered as a non-information bit, the inverse version 1212 of the energy pulse 1206 may be discarded after being demodulated by the second wireless communication device 1004. In some cases, it is not necessary to use a dedicated symbol that does not carry information, such as information about Fig.11 The use of such a special symbol (e.g., an inverted version of the energy pulse) to carry information may facilitate achieving higher data rates compared to the null symbol described above.

[0143] In some cases, taking one or more actions in step 1020 may involve the first wireless communication device 1002 sending an indication to the second wireless communication device 1004. In some cases, the indication may indicate to the second wireless communication device 1004 to adjust the time-averaged voltage. In such cases, the second wireless communication device 1004 may take one or more actions in step 1030 by adjusting the time-averaged voltage based on the indication received from the first wireless communication device 1002 to adjust the time-averaged voltage.

[0144] In some cases, the second wireless communication device 1004 may be configured with one or more rules that instruct the second wireless communication device 1004 to adjust the time-averaged voltage. In some cases, the one or more rules may be transmitted to the second wireless communication device 1004 in configuration information from the first wireless communication device, or may be pre-configured in the second wireless communication device 1004 (e.g., by a manufacturer or retailer of the second wireless communication device 1004). In some cases, the one or more rules may configure the second wireless communication device 1004 to adjust the time-averaged voltage upon receiving a threshold number of consecutive symbols. In other words, rather than receiving an instruction to adjust the time-averaged voltage from the first wireless communication device 1002, the second wireless communication device 1004 may be configured to automatically adjust the time-averaged voltage upon receiving a threshold number of consecutive symbols.

[0145] Fig.13A An example circuit 1300 that may be included in a second wireless communication device 1004 and used to adjust a time-averaged voltage is depicted. For example, as shown, a time-averaged voltage 1302 may be input into the circuit 1300. In some cases, in response to receiving an indication to adjust the time-averaged voltage, a switch 1304 may be used to effectively split the time-averaged voltage 1302 between a ground terminal 1306 and a comparator 1308. By splitting the time-averaged voltage 1302 between the ground terminal 1306 and the comparator 1308, the second wireless communication device 1004 may be able to maintain the time-averaged voltage 1302 within a threshold range.

[0146] In some cases, voltage adjustment may be performed before voltage fluctuations occur (e.g., before a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width are sent in succession). Fig. 13B As illustrated, the first wireless communication device 1002 may determine that a threshold number of energy pulses (such as energy pulses 1320, 1322, and 1324) having the same pulse width as each other are to be transmitted consecutively. In such a case, the first wireless communication device 1002 may send an instruction to the second wireless communication device 1004 to adjust the time-averaged voltage before transmitting the threshold number of energy pulses (e.g., energy pulses 1320, 1322, and 1324). In other words, the instruction received from the first wireless communication device 1002 indicates to the second wireless communication device 1004 to adjust the time-averaged voltage before receiving the threshold number of energy pulses. For example, as shown, the instruction to adjust the time-averaged voltage may be sent by the first wireless communication device 1002 at time t, while energy pulses 1320, 1322, and 1324 are sent at times t+1, t+2, and t+3, respectively.

[0147] In some cases, the indication of adjusting the time average voltage may include a dedicated symbol or a dedicated sequence. For example, in some cases, the dedicated symbol may include an energy pulse with a specific unique pulse width that is not used to indicate a bit value of 0 or 1. For example, as described above, in PIE encoding, a bit value of 1 may be indicated using a long on duration and a short off duration, while a bit value of 0 may be indicated using a short on duration and a short off duration. Therefore, in one example, a dedicated symbol may include an energy pulse with a short on duration and a long off duration, or an energy pulse with a long on duration and a long off duration, etc. In other words, as noted, a dedicated symbol may include any type of energy pulse, as long as the energy pulse of any type is not interpreted as an energy pulse indicating an existing bit value of 0 or 1.

[0148] In some cases, the dedicated sequence may include a sequence of energy pulses indicating a particular sequence of bit values. For example, in some cases, the dedicated sequence may include a sequence of energy pulses indicating a sequence of bit values ​​010, 011, 110, or any other sequence of bit values ​​that may be configured to indicate an adjusted time-averaged voltage.

[0149] In some cases, the second wireless communication device 1004 may send capability information indicating the capability of the second wireless communication device 1004 to adjust the time-averaged voltage to the first wireless communication device 1002. In such cases, whether the first wireless communication device 1002 sends an indication to adjust the time-averaged voltage may be based on the capability information from the second wireless communication device 1004.

[0150] In some cases, the capability information may indicate to the first wireless communication device 1002 that the second wireless communication device 1004 does not support adjusting the time average voltage. Fig.10 In order to ensure that the time average voltage associated with the RF signal transmitted in step 1010 remains within the threshold range, the first wireless communication device 1002 may be configured to dynamically configure the encoding scheme for indicating the binary value. For example, in some cases, when the capability information indicates that the second wireless communication device 1004 does not support adjusting the time average voltage, Fig.10 Taking one or more actions in step 1020 to maintain the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within a threshold range may include dynamically configuring a direct current (DC) balanced coding scheme to indicate binary values ​​(e.g., 0 and 1). In addition, in some cases, the first wireless communication device 1002 may send an indication to the second wireless communication device 1004 indicating the dynamically configured coding scheme used for transmitting the RF signal by the first wireless communication device 1002.

[0151] Fig.14An example of a DC balanced encoding scheme is depicted. In some cases, fluctuations in the time-averaged voltage may be caused by a difference in the RF on / off duty cycle between binary values ​​0 and 1. An example of a difference between the RF on / off duty cycles may include a case where 75% RF on duty cycle and 25% RF off duty cycle are used to encode a binary bit value of 1, while 50% RF on duty cycle and 50% RF off duty cycle are used to encode a binary bit value of 0. As noted, this difference in the RF on / off duty cycle between binary values ​​0 and 1 may result in fluctuations in the time-averaged voltage.

[0152] Therefore, in some cases, to avoid these fluctuations, the first wireless communication device 1002 may use other encoding methods, such as a DC balanced encoding scheme. In some cases, the DC balanced encoding scheme may have the same RF on / off duty cycle for encoding binary bit values ​​1 and 0 (e.g., RF on duty cycle == RF off duty cycle). In other cases, the DC balanced encoding scheme may use an RF on duty cycle that is different from the RF off duty cycle used to encode binary bit values ​​1 and 0. For example, in such cases, the DC balanced encoding scheme may use 75% RF on duty cycle and 25% RF off duty cycle to encode binary bit value 1, and use 75% RF on duty cycle and 25% RF off duty cycle to encode binary bit value 0.

[0153] One such DC-balanced encoding scheme that can be dynamically configured by the first wireless communication device 1002 is Fig.14 exemplified in and includes a coding scheme known as pulse positioning modulation (PPM). PPM is a coding scheme in which the amplitude and width of the energy pulses remain constant, while the positioning of each energy pulse with respect to a reference energy pulse varies according to the instantaneous sampled value of the message signal. Fig.14 As shown in the example of , the coding scheme can achieve an RF on duty cycle of approximately 75%. Fig.14 An example encoding scheme that can be dynamically configured by the first wireless communication device 1002 is illustrated, but other encoding schemes can be dynamically configured, such as PIE, Manchester encoding, or other encoding schemes for RFID-based communications. In some cases, the first wireless communication device 1002 can configure the selected encoding method to the second wireless communication device 1004.

[0154] In some cases, in order to avoid a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width (e.g., ≥X 0s or 1s) being transmitted consecutively, the first wireless communication device may be configured to perform a technique known as data scrambling and / or data whitening. Data scrambling and data whitening may involve multiplying the data for transmission (e.g., which may generally result in a threshold number of energy pulses being transmitted consecutively) with a dedicated sequence (e.g., which may be dynamically configured or preconfigured). The dedicated sequence may be designed to avoid a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width being transmitted in the RF signal. Thus, in some cases, Fig.10 Taking one or more actions in step 1020 to maintain a time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal may include performing one of data scrambling or data whitening on the RF signal sent in step 1010 to avoid a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width being sent consecutively.

[0155] Fig.15 An example linear feedback shift register (LFSR) circuit 1500 that can be used to perform data whitening is depicted. In some cases, the LFSR circuit 1500 can be used to generate a random sequence 1502 of 7 bits (e.g., bits 0-6). This random sequence can then be used to perform an XOR operation 1506 with respect to a transmit payload 1504 and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) checksum. The XOR operation 1506 is performed starting with the least significant bit of the payload 1504 and proceeding to the most significant bit of the payload 1504. The XOR operation 1506 results in whitened data 1508, which can be transmitted by the first wireless communication device 1002 via (e.g., at Fig.10 After receiving the RF signal including the whitened data 1508, the second wireless communication device 1004 can de-whiten the whitened data 1508 by performing another XOR operation on the whitened data 1508 using the same random sequence 1502.

[0156] In some cases, whether data whitening or data scrambling is used by the first wireless communication device 1002 to maintain a time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal, the random sequence used in the data whitening or data scrambling (or how to generate such a sequence) may be preconfigured in advance to both the first wireless communication device 1002 and the second wireless communication device 1004 (e.g., known to both the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device). For example, in some cases, the first wireless communication device 1002 may send an indication to the second wireless communication device 1004 indicating the random sequence used by the first wireless communication device 1002 when performing data whitening or data scrambling associated with data sent in the RF signal. In some cases, the random sequence used by the first wireless communication device 1002 when performing data whitening or data scrambling may assist the second wireless communication device 1004 in properly decoding the RF signal received from the first wireless communication device 1002. In some cases, when the first wireless communication device 1002 includes a UE (eg, UE 104), the UE may receive an indication from a network entity (eg, BS 102) indicating a random sequence to be used to perform data whitening or data scrambling or how to generate a random sequence.

[0157] In some cases, in order to keep the time-averaged voltage within a threshold range, the one or more actions taken by the second wireless communication device 1004 in step 1030 may include pausing power averaging of energy pulses in the RF signal for a specific duration. For example, when a threshold number (e.g., X) of energy pulses having the same pulse width are transmitted consecutively, an envelope detector (e.g., Fig. 8A ) may be configured to pause power averaging of energy pulses in the RF signal for a particular duration (e.g., Y). In some cases, the threshold number (e.g., X) and / or duration (e.g., Y) may be dynamically configured by the first wireless communication device 1002 to the second wireless communication device 1004 or may be preconfigured (e.g., by a manufacturer or retailer of the second wireless communication device).

[0158] In some cases, a switch may be included within an envelope detector of the second wireless communication device 1004 that may allow the second wireless communication device to suspend power averaging of energy pulses for a specific duration. Fig.16 The example comprising the envelope detector 802 is again illustrated. Fig. 8A800. As shown, the envelope detector 802 includes an envelope detection module 1602 configured to output an envelope signal 804 and a power averaging module 1604 configured to output an averaged generated output signal 806. In addition, as can be seen, the power averaging module 1604 includes a switch 1606. The switch 1606 can allow the power averaging module 1604 of the envelope detector 802 of the second wireless communication device 1004 to pause the power averaging of energy pulses received in the RF signal (e.g., the amplitude modulated RF signal 814) for a duration. For example, in some cases, when the second wireless communication device 1004 detects a threshold number of energy pulses, the second wireless communication device 1004 can open the switch 1606, thereby preventing the additional voltage from the received energy pulses from affecting the time-averaged voltage 810 input to the comparator 812, thereby maintaining the time-averaged voltage 810 within the threshold range.

[0159] In some cases, a capacitor may be used to maintain the time-averaged voltage 810 input to the comparator 812 when power averaging is paused. Fig.16 As shown, the power averaging module 1604 may include a capacitor 1608. Fig.16 As illustrated, when the switch 1606 is “off” and not connected to the amplitude modulated RF signal 814 (e.g., such that energy pulses in the amplitude modulated RF signal 814 are blocked from affecting the time-averaged voltage 810), the capacitor 1608 can be configured to supply a voltage to maintain the time-averaged voltage 810 within a threshold range. Thereafter, the switch 1606 can be switched back to receiving input from the amplitude modulated RF signal 814.

[0160] In some cases, the first wireless communication device 1002 may send a dedicated symbol in the RF signal to the second wireless communication device 1004, the dedicated symbol indicating to the second wireless communication device to suspend power averaging of energy pulses in the RF signal for the duration. In such cases, in response to receiving at least the dedicated symbol from the first wireless communication device 1002, the second wireless communication device 1004 may suspend power averaging for the indicated duration (e.g., using switch 1606 in some cases). As described above, transmissions with a larger RF on duty cycle may provide more energy to a semi-passive / passive RFID device such as the second wireless communication device 1004. In some cases, when a first wireless communication device 1002 (e.g., a reader) is located close to a second wireless communication device 1004 (e.g., an RFID tag), the first wireless communication device 1002 may be able to provide sufficient energy to the second wireless communication device 1004 (even during shorter RF on-times) for the second wireless communication device 1004 to send an RF signal back to the first wireless communication device 1002 (e.g., because the response power of the second wireless communication device 1004 increases as the distance between the first wireless communication device 1002 and the second wireless communication device 1004 decreases).

[0161] Thus, in some cases, in addition to being able to dynamically configure the coding scheme used to indicate the binary value, the first wireless communication device 1002 may also be able to dynamically configure the duty cycle associated with the RF signal or the RF on duration (e.g., the pulse width associated with the energy pulse) and the RF off duration (e.g., between energy pulses). In some cases, the dynamic configuration of the RF on / off duration may be based on the distance between the first wireless communication device 1002 and the second wireless communication device 1004. For example, in some cases, as the distance between the first wireless communication device 1002 and the second wireless communication device 1004 decreases, the first wireless communication device 1002 may decrease the duty cycle of the RF signal. Fig.10 The distance between the first wireless communication device 1002 and the second wireless communication device 1004 may be indicated by a parameter (e.g., a quality of service (QoS) parameter) (e.g., implicitly). For example, the absence of an acknowledgement (ACK) or negative ACK (NACK), the receipt of a NACK, a decoding error, or other parameters or events may indicate the distance between the first wireless communication device 1002 and the second wireless communication device 1004. Such an indication may be provided as feedback information from the second wireless communication device 1004 (e.g., an RFID tag).

[0162] In some cases, the dynamic configuration of the RF on / off duration may be based on the response power of the second wireless communication device 1004. For example, in some cases, the first wireless communication device 1002 may measure the response power of the second wireless communication device 1004 based on the RF signal sent to the second wireless communication device 1004. In some cases, the response power may include the response power of the second wireless communication device 1004 in response to the response power of the first wireless communication device 1002 at the second wireless communication device 1004. Fig.10 In some cases, the first wireless communication device 1002 may then dynamically configure the pulse width (e.g., on duration in some examples) and off duration associated with the plurality of energy pulses in the RF signal sent in step 1010 based on the measured response power of the second wireless communication device 1004.

[0163] Example Operation of the First Wireless Communication Device

[0164] Fig.17 An example of a method 1700 for wireless communication by a first wireless communication device is shown. In some examples, the first wireless communication device is a UE, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 UE 104. In some aspects, the first wireless communication device is a network entity, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 BS102, or as for Figure 2 The decomposed base station in question.

[0165] Method 1700 begins at step 1705, where RF signals are sent to a second wireless communication device, the RF signals comprising a plurality of energy pulses encoded using a coding scheme to indicate a binary value. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the following: Fig.19 The described circuits for transmitting and / or codes for transmitting, or executable by the circuits and / or the codes.

[0166] Method 1700 then proceeds to step 1710, where one or more actions are taken to maintain the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within a threshold range. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the reference Fig.19 The circuits for taking and / or the code for taking are described, or can be executed by the circuits and / or the code.

[0167] In some aspects, the energy pulses have different pulse widths to indicate binary values ​​based on a coding scheme.

[0168] In some aspects, the encoding scheme comprises a PIE scheme.

[0169] In some aspects, taking one or more actions includes: determining that a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width as each other are to be sent consecutively; and sending a dedicated symbol in the RF signal that replaces at least one energy pulse among the threshold number of energy pulses based on the determined threshold number of energy pulses to keep the time-averaged voltage within a threshold range.

[0170] In some aspects, the threshold amount is dynamically configured.

[0171] In some aspects, the special symbols include a null value symbol.

[0172] In some aspects, transmitting the dedicated symbol includes transmitting an inverse version of at least one energy pulse of the threshold number of energy pulses.

[0173] In some aspects, taking one or more actions includes: determining that a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width as one another are to be transmitted consecutively; and transmitting an indication to the second wireless communication device instructing the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage.

[0174] In some aspects, sending the indication to adjust the time-averaged voltage includes sending the indication before sending the threshold number of energy pulses; and the indication indicates to the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage before receiving the threshold number of energy pulses.

[0175] In some aspects, the indication is sent in the RF signal as one of a dedicated symbol or a dedicated energy pulse sequence.

[0176] In some aspects, the method 1700 further includes receiving capability information from the second wireless communication device indicating the capability of the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage, wherein sending the indication to adjust the time-averaged voltage is based on the capability information from the second wireless communication device. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the following steps: Fig.19 Circuits for receiving and / or code for receiving are described, or may be executed by the circuits and / or the code.

[0177] In some aspects, taking one or more actions to maintain a time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal includes performing one of data scrambling or data whitening on the RF signal to prevent a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width from being sent consecutively.

[0178] In some aspects, method 1700 also includes dynamically configuring a coding scheme for encoding the energy pulses of the RF signal. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the Fig.19 Circuits for performing and / or code for performing are described, or can be performed by such circuits and / or such code.

[0179] In some aspects, the method 1700 further includes receiving capability information from the second wireless communication device indicating the capability of the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage, wherein the dynamically configured coding scheme is based at least in part on the capability information. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to Fig.19 The described circuits for receiving and / or codes for receiving may be or may be executed by the circuits and / or codes.

[0180] In some aspects, when the capability information indicates that the second wireless communication device does not support adjusting the time-averaged voltage, taking one or more actions to maintain the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within a threshold range includes: dynamically configuring a direct current (DC) balance encoding scheme to indicate a binary value.

[0181] In some aspects, the method 1700 further includes sending an indication of the dynamically configured encoding scheme to the second wireless communication device. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the following Fig.19 The described circuits for transmitting and / or codes for transmitting, or executable by the circuits and / or the codes.

[0182] In some aspects, the method 1700 further includes sending a special symbol in the RF signal to the second wireless communication device to indicate to pause for the duration. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the reference Fig.19 The described circuits for transmitting and / or codes for transmitting, or executable by the circuits and / or the codes.

[0183] In some aspects, method 1700 further includes averaging the power of energy pulses in the RF signal when a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width are transmitted consecutively. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the above-described Fig.19 The described circuit for power and / or code for power, or may be executed by the circuit and / or the code.

[0184] In some aspects, the method 1700 further includes sending an indication of the threshold number of energy pulses and an indication of the duration to the second wireless communication device. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the following: Fig.19 The described circuits for transmitting and / or codes for transmitting, or executable by the circuits and / or the codes.

[0185] In some aspects, the method 1700 further includes measuring a response power of the second wireless communication device based on the RF signal sent to the second wireless communication device. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the following Fig.19 The described circuits for measuring and / or the code for measuring, or can be executed by the circuits and / or the code.

[0186] In some aspects, the method 1700 also includes dynamically configuring an RF on duration and an RF off duration associated with the RF signal based on the measured response power. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the reference Fig.19 Circuits for performing and / or code for performing are described, or can be performed by such circuits and / or such code.

[0187] In one aspect, method 1700 or any aspect related thereto may be performed by an apparatus such as Fig.19 The method 1700 is performed by a communication device 1900 that includes various components operable, configured, or adapted to perform the method 1700. The communication device 1900 is described in more detail below.

[0188] Please note that Fig.17 This is merely one example of a method, and other methods including fewer, additional, or alternative steps may also be consistent with the present disclosure.

[0189] Example Operation of the Second Wireless Communication Device

[0190] Fig.18 An example of a method 1800 for wireless communication by a second wireless communication device is shown. In some examples, the second wireless communication device is a UE, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 UE 104. In some aspects, the second wireless communication device is a network entity, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 BS102, or as for Figure 2 The decomposed base station in question.

[0191] Method 1800 begins at step 1805, where RF signals are received from a first wireless communication device, the RF signals comprising a plurality of energy pulses encoded using a coding scheme to indicate a binary value. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the following: Fig. 20 Circuits for receiving and / or code for receiving are described, or may be executed by the circuits and / or the code.

[0192] Method 1800 then proceeds to step 1810, where one or more actions are taken to maintain the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within a threshold range. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the reference Fig. 20 The circuits for taking and / or the code for taking are described, or can be executed by the circuits and / or the code.

[0193] In some aspects, the energy pulses have different pulse widths to indicate binary values ​​based on a coding scheme.

[0194] In some aspects, the encoding scheme comprises a PIE scheme.

[0195] In some aspects, the plurality of energy pulses includes a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width as one another; and method 1800 also includes receiving a dedicated symbol in the RF signal that replaces at least one energy pulse in the threshold number of energy pulses to maintain the time-averaged voltage within a threshold range.

[0196] In some aspects, the threshold amount is dynamically configured.

[0197] In some aspects, the special symbols include a null value symbol.

[0198] In some aspects, receiving the dedicated symbol includes receiving an inverse version of at least one energy pulse of the threshold number of energy pulses.

[0199] In some aspects, the plurality of energy pulses comprises a threshold number of energy pulses having a same pulse width; and taking one or more actions comprises: receiving an indication from the first wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage; and adjusting the time-averaged voltage based on the received indication.

[0200] In some aspects, receiving an indication to adjust the time-averaged voltage includes receiving the indication before a threshold number of energy pulses are received; the indication indicates to adjust the time-averaged voltage before the threshold number of energy pulses are received; and adjusting the time-averaged voltage includes adjusting the time-averaged voltage before the threshold number of energy pulses are received.

[0201] In some aspects, the indication is received in the RF signal as one of a dedicated symbol or a dedicated energy pulse sequence.

[0202] In some aspects, the method 1800 further includes sending capability information to the first wireless communication device indicating the capability of the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage, wherein receiving the indication to adjust the time-averaged voltage is based on the capability information. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the following: Fig. 20 The described circuits for transmitting and / or codes for transmitting, or executable by the circuits and / or the codes.

[0203] In some aspects, the encoding scheme used to encode the energy pulses of the RF signal is dynamically configured.

[0204] In some aspects, the method 1800 further includes sending capability information to the first wireless communication device indicating the capability of the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage, wherein the dynamically configured encoding scheme is based at least in part on the capability information. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to Fig. 20 The described circuits for transmitting and / or codes for transmitting, or executable by the circuits and / or the codes.

[0205] In some aspects, when the capability information indicates that the second wireless communication device does not support adjusting the time-averaged voltage, the plurality of energy pulses are encoded with a direct current (DC) balanced encoding scheme to indicate a binary value.

[0206] In some aspects, the method 1800 further includes receiving an indication of the dynamically configured coding scheme from the first wireless communication device. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to Fig. 20 The described circuits for receiving and / or codes for receiving may be or may be executed by the circuits and / or codes.

[0207] In some aspects, method 1800 further includes receiving a dedicated symbol in the RF signal indicating that power averaging of energy pulses in the RF signal is suspended for a duration when a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width are received consecutively, wherein taking one or more actions includes suspending power averaging of energy pulses in the RF signal for the duration. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the steps described in reference to Fig. 20 The described circuits for receiving and / or codes for receiving may be or may be executed by the circuits and / or codes.

[0208] In some aspects, the method 1800 further includes receiving an indication of a threshold number of energy pulses and an indication of a duration from the first wireless communication device. In some cases, the operation of this step refers to the following: Fig. 20 The described circuits for receiving and / or codes for receiving may be or may be executed by the circuits and / or codes.

[0209] In one aspect, method 1800 or any aspect related thereto may be performed by an apparatus such as Fig. 20 The method 1800 is performed by a communication device 2000 that includes various components operable, configured, or adapted to perform the method 1800. The communication device 2000 is described in more detail below.

[0210] Please note that Fig.18 This is merely one example of a method, and other methods including fewer, additional, or alternative steps may also be consistent with the present disclosure.

[0211] Example Communication Device

[0212] Fig.19 Various aspects of an example communications device 1900 are depicted. In some aspects, communications device 1900 is a user equipment (UE), such as described above with respect to Figure 1 and Figure 3 UE 104 is described. In some aspects, the communication device 1900 is a network entity such as Figure 1 and Figure 3BS102, or as for Figure 2 The decomposed base station in question.

[0213] The communication device 1900 includes a processing system 1905 coupled to a transceiver 1975 (e.g., a transmitter and / or a receiver). In some aspects (e.g., when the communication device 1900 is a network entity), the processing system 1905 can be coupled to a network interface 1985 that is configured to communicate with the communication device 1900 via a communication link (such as, for example, as described herein). Figure 2 The processing system 1905 may be configured to perform processing functions of the communication device 1900, including processing signals received and / or to be transmitted by the communication device 1900.

[0214] The processing system 1905 includes one or more processors 1910. In various aspects, such as with respect to Figure 3 As depicted, the one or more processors 1910 may represent one or more of the receive processor 358, the transmit processor 364, the TX MIMO processor 366, and / or the controller / processor 380. In various aspects, as described with respect to Figure 3 As described, the one or more processors 1910 may represent one or more of the receive processor 338, the transmit processor 320, the TX MIMO processor 330, and / or the controller / processor 340. The one or more processors 1910 are coupled to the computer-readable medium / memory 1940 via the bus 1970. In certain aspects, the computer-readable medium / memory 1940 is configured to store instructions (e.g., computer-executable code) that, when executed by the one or more processors 1910, cause the one or more processors 1910 to perform operations related to the processing of the computer-readable medium / memory 1940. Fig.17 The method 1700 described herein or any aspect related thereto. Note that references to a processor performing a function of the communication device 1900 may include one or more processors 1910 performing that function of the communication device 1900 .

[0215] In the depicted example, computer readable medium / memory 1940 stores code (e.g., executable instructions) such as code for sending 1945, code for adopting 1950, code for receiving 1955, code for dynamic configuration 1960, and code for measuring 1965. Processing of code for sending 1945, code for adopting 1950, code for receiving 1955, code for dynamic configuration 1960, and code for measuring 1965 may cause the communication device 1900 to perform operations related to Fig.17The described method 1700 or any aspect related thereto.

[0216] The one or more processors 1910 include circuits configured to implement (e.g., execute) code stored in the computer-readable medium / memory 1940, including circuits such as circuits for transmitting 1915, circuits for taking 1920, circuits for receiving 1925, circuits for dynamic configuration 1930, and circuits for measuring 1935. Processing using the circuits for transmitting 1915, circuits for taking 1920, circuits for receiving 1925, circuits for dynamic configuration 1930, and circuits for measuring 1935 may cause the communication device 1900 to perform operations such as those described with respect to FIG. Fig.17 The described method 1700 or any aspect related thereto.

[0217] The various components of the communication device 1900 may provide for performing Fig.17 The components of the described method 1700 or any aspect thereof. For example, the components for sending, transmitting, or outputting for sending may include Figure 3 The transceiver 354 and / or antenna 352 of the UE 104 are shown as follows: Figure 3 The illustrated transceiver 332 and / or antenna 334 and / or Fig.19 The transceiver 1975 and antenna 1980 of the communication device 1900 in FIG. 1 may include Figure 3 The transceiver 354 and / or antenna 352 of the UE 104 are shown as follows: Figure 3 The illustrated transceiver 332 and / or antenna 334 and / or Fig.19 The transceiver 1975 and antenna 1980 of the communication device 1900 are illustrated.

[0218] Fig. 20 Depicted are aspects of an example communications device 2000. In some aspects, the communications device 2000 is user equipment, such as described above with respect to Figure 1 and Figure 3 UE 104 is described. In some aspects, the communication device 2000 is a network entity such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 BS102 or as for Figure 2 The decomposed base station in question.

[0219] The communication device 2000 includes a processing system 2005 coupled to a transceiver 2055 (e.g., a transmitter and / or a receiver). In some aspects (e.g., when the communication device 2000 is a network entity), the processing system 2005 can be coupled to a network interface 2065 that is configured to communicate with the network via a communication link (such as, for example, as described herein). Figure 2The processing system 2005 may be configured to perform processing functions of the communication device 2000, including processing signals received and / or to be transmitted by the communication device 2000.

[0220] The processing system 2005 includes one or more processors 2010. In various aspects, such as with respect to Figure 3 As depicted, the one or more processors 2010 may represent one or more of the receive processor 358, the transmit processor 364, the TX MIMO processor 366, and / or the controller / processor 380. In various aspects, as described with respect to Figure 3 As described, the one or more processors 2010 may represent one or more of the receive processor 338, the transmit processor 320, the TX MIMO processor 330, and / or the controller / processor 340. The one or more processors 2010 are coupled to the computer-readable medium / memory 2030 via the bus 2050. In some aspects, the computer-readable medium / memory 2030 is configured to store instructions (e.g., computer-executable code) that, when executed by the one or more processors 2010, cause the one or more processors 2010 to perform operations related to the processing of the computer-readable medium / memory 2030. Fig.18 The described method 1800 or any aspect related thereto. Note that references to a processor performing a function of the communication device 2000 may include one or more processors 2010 performing that function of the communication device 2000.

[0221] In the depicted example, computer readable medium / memory 2030 stores code (e.g., executable instructions) such as code for receiving 2035, code for taking 2040, code for sending 2045, and code for pausing 2046. Processing of code for receiving 2035, code for taking 2040, code for sending 2045, and code for pausing 2046 may cause communication device 2000 to perform operations related to Fig.18 The method 1800 described herein or any aspect related thereto.

[0222] The one or more processors 2010 include circuits configured to implement (e.g., execute) code stored in the computer-readable medium / memory 2030, including circuits such as circuits for receiving 2015, code for taking 2020, code for sending 2025, and code for pausing 2026. Processing using the circuits for receiving 2015, the circuits for taking 2020, the circuits for sending 2025, and the circuits for pausing 2026 may cause the communication device 2000 to perform operations related to Fig.18 The method 1800 described herein or any aspect related thereto.

[0223] The various components of the communication device 2000 may be used to perform Fig.18 The components of the described method 1800 or any aspect thereof. For example, the components for sending, transmitting, or outputting for sending may include Figure 3 The transceiver 354 and / or antenna 352 of the UE 104 are shown as follows: Figure 3 The illustrated transceiver 332 and / or antenna 334 and / or Fig. 20 The illustrated communication device 2000 includes a transceiver 2055 and an antenna 2060. The components for receiving or obtaining may include Figure 3 The illustrated transceiver 354 and / or antenna 352 of the UE 104, Figure 3 The illustrated transceiver 332 and / or antenna 334 and / or Fig. 20 The transceiver 2055 and antenna 2060 of the communication device 2000 are illustrated.

[0224] Sample Clauses

[0225] Specific implementation examples are described in the following numbered clauses:

[0226] Clause 1: A method for wireless communication by a first wireless communication device, comprising: sending an RF signal to a second wireless communication device, the RF signal comprising a plurality of energy pulses encoded using a coding scheme to indicate a binary value; and taking one or more actions to maintain a time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within a threshold range.

[0227] Clause 2: The method of clause 1, wherein the energy pulses have different pulse widths to indicate the binary value based on the encoding scheme.

[0228] Clause 3: A method as described in any of clauses 1 to 2, wherein the encoding scheme comprises a PIE scheme.

[0229] Clause 4: A method according to any one of clauses 1 to 3, wherein taking one or more actions includes: determining that a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width as each other are to be sent continuously; and sending a dedicated symbol in the RF signal to replace at least one energy pulse in the threshold number of energy pulses based on the determined threshold number of energy pulses to keep the time-averaged voltage within the threshold range.

[0230] Clause 5. The method of clause 4, wherein the threshold number is dynamically configured.

[0231] Clause 6: The method of clause 4, wherein the special symbols include null value symbols.

[0232] Clause 7: The method of clause 4, wherein sending the dedicated symbol comprises sending an inverse version of the at least one energy pulse of the threshold number of energy pulses.

[0233] Clause 8: A method according to any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein taking one or more actions includes: determining that a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width as each other are to be sent consecutively; and sending an indication to the second wireless communication device instructing the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage.

[0234] Clause 9: A method according to clause 8, wherein: sending the indication to adjust the time-averaged voltage includes sending the indication before sending the threshold number of energy pulses; and the indication instructs the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage before receiving the threshold number of energy pulses.

[0235] Clause 10: The method of any of clauses 8 to 9, wherein the indication is sent in the RF signal as one of a dedicated symbol or a dedicated energy pulse sequence.

[0236] Clause 11: The method according to any one of clauses 8 to 10 further includes: receiving capability information from the second wireless communication device indicating the capability of the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage, wherein the indication for adjusting the time-averaged voltage is sent based on the capability information from the second wireless communication device.

[0237] Clause 12: A method according to any one of clauses 1 to 11, wherein taking one or more actions to maintain the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal includes: performing one of data scrambling or data whitening on the RF signal to avoid a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width being sent consecutively.

[0238] Clause 13: The method of any one of clauses 1 to 12, further comprising: dynamically configuring the encoding scheme used to encode the energy pulses of the RF signal.

[0239] Clause 14: The method of clause 13, further comprising: receiving capability information from the second wireless communication device indicating a capability of the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage, wherein dynamically configuring the coding scheme is based at least in part on the capability information.

[0240] Clause 15: A method according to clause 14, wherein when the capability information indicates that the second wireless communication device does not support adjustment of the time-averaged voltage, taking the one or more actions to maintain the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within the threshold range includes: dynamically configuring a direct current (DC) balanced coding scheme to indicate the binary value.

[0241] Aspect 16: A method as described in any of clauses 13 to 15, further comprising: sending an indication of the dynamically configured coding scheme to the second wireless communication device.

[0242] Clause 17: The method according to any one of clauses 1 to 16 further includes: sending a special symbol in the RF signal, wherein the special symbol indicates to the second wireless communication device to suspend the power averaging of the energy pulses in the RF signal for a duration when a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width are sent continuously.

[0243] Clause 18: The method of clause 17, further comprising: sending an indication of the threshold number of energy pulses and an indication of the duration to the second wireless communication device.

[0244] Clause 19: The method according to any one of clauses 1 to 18 further includes: measuring a response power of the second wireless communication device based on the RF signal sent to the second wireless communication device; and dynamically configuring an RF on duration and an RF off duration associated with the RF signal based on the measured response power.

[0245] Clause 20: A method for wireless communication by a second wireless communication device, comprising: receiving an RF signal from a first wireless communication device, the RF signal comprising a plurality of energy pulses encoded using a coding scheme to indicate a binary value; and taking one or more actions to maintain a time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within a threshold range.

[0246] Clause 21: The method of clause 20, wherein the energy pulses have different pulse widths to indicate the binary value based on the encoding scheme.

[0247] Clause 22: A method as described in any one of clauses 20 to 21, wherein the encoding scheme comprises a PIE scheme.

[0248] Clause 23: A method according to any one of clauses 20 to 22, wherein: the multiple energy pulses include a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width as each other; and the method further includes: receiving a dedicated symbol in the RF signal that replaces at least one energy pulse among the threshold number of energy pulses to keep the time-averaged voltage within the threshold range.

[0249] Clause 24: The method of clause 23, wherein the threshold amount is dynamically configured.

[0250] Clause 25: A method as described in any of clauses 23 to 24, wherein the special symbol comprises a null value symbol.

[0251] Clause 26: The method of any one of clauses 23 to 25, wherein receiving the dedicated symbol comprises receiving an inverse version of the at least one energy pulse of the threshold number of energy pulses.

[0252] Clause 27: A method according to any one of clauses 20 to 26, wherein: the multiple energy pulses include a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width; and taking the one or more actions includes: receiving an indication from the first wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage; and adjusting the time-averaged voltage based on the received indication.

[0253] Clause 28: A method according to clause 27, wherein: receiving the indication to adjust the time-averaged voltage includes receiving the indication before receiving the threshold number of energy pulses; the indication indicates to adjust the time-averaged voltage before receiving the threshold number of energy pulses; and adjusting the time-averaged voltage includes adjusting the time-averaged voltage before receiving the threshold number of energy pulses.

[0254] Clause 29: The method of any of clauses 27 to 28, wherein the indication is received in the RF signal as one of a dedicated symbol or a dedicated energy pulse sequence.

[0255] Clause 30: The method of any one of clauses 27, further comprising: sending capability information to the first wireless communication device indicating a capability of the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage, wherein receiving the indication to adjust the time-averaged voltage is based on the capability information.

[0256] Clause 31: The method of any of clauses 20 to 30, wherein the encoding scheme used to encode the energy pulses of the RF signal is dynamically configured.

[0257] Clause 32: The method of clause 31, further comprising: sending capability information to the first wireless communication device indicating a capability of the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage, wherein the dynamically configured coding scheme is based at least in part on the capability information.

[0258] Clause 33: The method of clause 32, wherein when the capability information indicates that the second wireless communication device does not support adjusting the time-averaged voltage, the plurality of energy pulses are encoded using a direct current (DC) balanced coding scheme to indicate the binary value.

[0259] Aspect 34: A method as described in any of clauses 31 to 33, further comprising: receiving an indication of the dynamically configured coding scheme from the first wireless communication device.

[0260] Clause 35: The method according to any one of clauses 20 to 34, further comprising: receiving a special symbol in the RF signal, the special symbol indicating pausing the power averaging of the energy pulses in the RF signal within a duration when a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width are received consecutively, wherein taking the one or more actions comprises: pausing the power averaging of the energy pulses in the RF signal within the duration.

[0261] Clause 36: The method of clause 35, further comprising: receiving an indication of the threshold number of energy pulses and an indication of the duration from the first wireless communication device.

[0262] Clause 37: An apparatus comprising: a memory including executable instructions; and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions and cause the apparatus to perform the method of any one of clauses 1 to 36.

[0263] Clause 38: An apparatus comprising: means for performing the method according to any one of clauses 1 to 36.

[0264] Clause 39: A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions which, when executed by a processor of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the method of any one of clauses 1 to 36.

[0265] Clause 40: A computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium, comprising: code for performing the method according to any one of clauses 1 to 36.

[0266] Additional considerations

[0267] The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. The examples discussed herein are not limited to the scope, applicability or aspects set forth in the claims. Various modifications to these aspects will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. For example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the functions and arrangements of the elements discussed may be changed. Various examples may omit, replace or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For example, the described methods may be performed in an order different from the order described, and various actions may be added, omitted or combined. In addition, the features described with respect to some examples may be combined in some other examples. For example, any number of aspects set forth herein may be used to implement a device or practice method. In addition, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover such devices or methods practiced using other structures, functionality or structures and functionality that are supplementary or alternative to the various aspects of the present disclosure set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of the present invention.

[0268] The various illustrative logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the present disclosure may be implemented or performed using a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device (PLD), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof, designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in an alternative, the processor may be any commercially available processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, a system on a chip (SoC), or any other such configuration.

[0269] As used herein, a phrase referring to "at least one of" a list of items refers to any combination of those items (including single members). For example, "at least one of a, b, or c" is intended to cover a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, and abc, as well as any combination with multiple identical elements (e.g., aa, aaa, aab, aac, abb, acc, bb, bbb, bbc, cc, and ccc, or any other ordering of a, b, and c).

[0270] As used herein, the term "determining" encompasses a wide variety of actions. For example, "determining" may include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, searching (e.g., searching in a table, a database, or another data structure), ascertaining, and the like. Additionally, "determining" may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory), and the like. Additionally, "determining" may include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.

[0271] The method disclosed herein includes one or more actions for implementing the method. The method actions may be interchangeable with each other without departing from the scope of the claims. In other words, unless a specific order of actions is specified, the order and / or use of specific actions may be modified without departing from the scope of the claims. In addition, the various operations of the method described above may be performed by any appropriate component capable of performing the corresponding function. The component may include various hardware and / or software components and / or modules, including but not limited to circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or processors.

[0272] The following claims are not intended to be limited to the various aspects shown herein, but should be given the full scope consistent with the language of the claims. Within the claims, unless otherwise specified, reference to an element in the singular form is not intended to mean "one and only one", but "one or more". Unless otherwise specified, the term "some" refers to one or more. Any claim element is not interpreted according to the provisions of 35 USC § 112 (f) unless the element is explicitly stated using the phrase "parts for...". All structural and functional equivalents of the elements of the various aspects described throughout the present disclosure that are known or will be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be covered by the claims. In addition, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public, regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recorded in the claims.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication by a first wireless communication device, comprising: transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal to a second wireless communication device, the RF signal comprising a plurality of energy pulses encoded using a coding scheme to indicate a binary value; as well as One or more actions are taken to maintain a time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within a threshold range. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein based on the encoding scheme, the energy pulse has a first pulse width indicating a first binary value and a second pulse width indicating a second binary value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the encoding scheme comprises a pulse interval encoding (PIE) scheme.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein taking one or more actions comprises: determining that a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width as one another are to be transmitted successively; as well as A dedicated symbol is sent in the RF signal replacing at least one energy pulse in the threshold number of energy pulses based on the determined threshold number of energy pulses to maintain the time-averaged voltage within the threshold range. The method of claim 4 , wherein the threshold number is dynamically configured. The method of claim 4 , wherein the special symbol comprises a null symbol.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein sending the dedicated symbol comprises: An inverse version of the at least one energy pulse of the threshold number of energy pulses is transmitted.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein taking the one or more actions comprises: determining that a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width as one another are to be transmitted successively; as well as An instruction is sent to the second wireless communication device to instruct the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein: Sending the instruction to adjust the time-averaged voltage includes: sending the instruction before sending the threshold number of energy pulses; and The indication indicates to the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage prior to receiving the threshold number of identical consecutive energy pulses.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the indication is sent in the RF signal as one of a dedicated symbol or a dedicated energy pulse sequence.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: Capability information is received from the second wireless communication device indicating a capability of the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage, wherein sending the indication to adjust the time-averaged voltage is based on the capability information from the second wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein taking one or more actions to maintain the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal comprises: One of data scrambling or data whitening is performed on the RF signal to prevent a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width from being sent consecutively.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The encoding scheme used to encode the energy pulses of the RF signal is dynamically configured.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: Capability information is received from the second wireless communication device indicating a capability of the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage, wherein dynamically configuring the encoding scheme is based at least in part on the capability information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein when the capability information indicates that the second wireless communication device does not support adjusting the time-averaged voltage, taking the one or more actions to maintain the time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within the threshold range comprises: A direct current (DC) balanced encoding scheme is dynamically configured to indicate the binary value.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: An indication of the dynamically configured coding scheme is sent to the second wireless communication device.

17. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: transmitting a dedicated symbol in the RF signal, the dedicated symbol indicating to the second wireless communication device to suspend power averaging of the energy pulses in the RF signal for a duration when a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width are transmitted consecutively; as well as An indication of the threshold number of energy pulses and an indication of the duration are sent to the second wireless communication device.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising: measuring a response power of the second wireless communication device based on the RF signal sent to the second wireless communication device; as well as An RF on duration and an RF off duration associated with the RF signal are dynamically configured based on the measured response power.

19. A method for wireless communication by a second wireless communication device, comprising: receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal from a first wireless communication device, the RF signal comprising a plurality of energy pulses encoded using a coding scheme to indicate a binary value; as well as One or more actions are taken to maintain a time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within a threshold range.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein based on the encoding scheme, the energy pulse has a first pulse width indicative of a first binary value and a second pulse width indicative of a second binary value.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the encoding scheme comprises a pulse interval encoding (PIE) scheme.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein: The plurality of energy pulses includes a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width as one another, wherein the threshold number is dynamically configured; and The method further includes receiving in the RF signal a dedicated symbol replacing at least one energy pulse of the threshold number of energy pulses to maintain the time-averaged voltage within the threshold range.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the special symbol comprises a null symbol.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving the dedicated symbol comprises: An inverse version of the at least one energy pulse of the threshold number of energy pulses is received.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein: The plurality of energy pulses includes a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width as one another; and Taking the one or more actions includes: receiving an indication from the first wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage, thereby adjusting the time-averaged voltage, wherein the indication is received in the RF signal as one of a dedicated symbol or a dedicated energy pulse sequence; as well as The time-averaged voltage is adjusted based on the received indication.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising: Capability information is sent to the first wireless communication device indicating a capability of the second wireless communication device to adjust the time-averaged voltage, wherein receiving the indication to adjust the time-averaged voltage is based on the capability information.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the encoding scheme used to encode the energy pulses of the RF signal is dynamically configured, and the method further comprises: An indication of the dynamically configured coding scheme is received from the first wireless communication device.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising: receiving a dedicated symbol in the RF signal, the dedicated symbol indicating to suspend power averaging of the energy pulses in the RF signal for a duration when a threshold number of energy pulses having the same pulse width as each other are received consecutively, wherein taking the one or more actions comprises: suspending the power averaging of the energy pulses in the RF signal for the duration; and An indication of the threshold number of energy pulses and an indication of the duration are received from the first wireless communication device.

29. A first wireless communication device configured for wireless communication, comprising: a memory including computer executable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the first wireless communication device to: transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal to a second wireless communication device, the RF signal comprising a plurality of energy pulses encoded using a coding scheme to indicate a binary value; as well as One or more actions are taken to maintain a time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within a threshold range.

30. A second wireless communication device configured for wireless communication, comprising: a memory including computer executable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the second wireless communication device to: receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal from a first wireless communication device, the RF signal comprising a plurality of energy pulses encoded using a coding scheme to indicate a binary value; as well as One or more actions are taken to maintain a time-averaged voltage associated with the RF signal within a threshold range.

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