Adaptive Scan Cycle for Near-Field Wireless Power Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices experience excessive battery power consumption due to frequent scan operations for wireless connections, even when not in use for such services, leading to inefficient energy usage.

Innovation Solution

The device adapts the scan signal transmission cycle based on the display's status and triggering events, adjusting the frequency to conserve battery life by maintaining a longer cycle when the display is on and adjusting to a shorter cycle if necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the scan operation is performed repeatedly to ensure wireless connection availability, then the reliability of wireless connection is improved, but the battery power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless connection availabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The scan cycle is made dynamic rather than fixed. The processor adjusts the scan cycle length based on display state: using a first cycle when the display is off and a second cycle (longer than the first) when the display is on. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by matching scan frequency to actual user needs, maintaining connection reliability when needed while reducing power consumption when the display is actively being used.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of scan cycle length based on display state. By switching between a first cycle (shorter) and a second cycle (longer) depending on whether the display is on or off, the system optimizes the balance between connection reliability and power consumption. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to different operational contexts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If the scan frequency is increased to quickly establish wireless connection, then the speed of connection establishment is improved, but the battery power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection establishment speedVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The scan frequency is made dynamic by adjusting the cycle length based on display state. When the display is on, a longer second cycle is used, reducing scan frequency and power consumption. When the display is off, a shorter first cycle is used, increasing scan frequency for faster connection establishment. This dynamic adjustment resolves the speed-power consumption contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic scan actions with varying periods. Instead of continuous high-frequency scanning, the system uses periodic scans with adaptively adjusted periods (first cycle or second cycle). This periodic action with variable timing maintains connection availability while reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous high-frequency scanning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If the scan operation is performed frequently to ensure service availability, then the productivity of wireless service is improved, but the battery power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless service availabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The scan operation frequency is dynamically adjusted based on display state to optimize productivity versus power consumption. The processor uses a first cycle when the display is off and a longer second cycle when the display is on, ensuring wireless service availability when needed while reducing unnecessary scans that would consume battery power during active display usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11277788B2Scan method in near-field wireless communication network and electronic device for implementing same

Publication Date: 2022.03.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

According to various embodiments of the present invention, an electronic device includes: a display; a near-field wireless communication circuit configured to repetitively transmit a scan signal for finding an access point; a processor electrically connected to the communication circuit; and a memory electrically connected to the processor, wherein, during execution, the memory can store commands for allowing the processor to set a transmission period of the scan signal as a first period, to determine whether it is necessary to adjust a scan frequency on the basis of a trigger for turning on the display when the display is turned on, to maintain the transmission period as the first period when the scan frequency adjustment is not necessary, and to change the transmission frequency to a second period shorter than the first period, when the scan frequency adjustment is necessary.