AMP Local Clock Recovery Using Cross-Modulated Wireless Signals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ambient power (AMP) devices face challenges in determining a local clock due to low complexity, low cost, and low power consumption, which affects their ability to maintain accurate timing and frequency stability over time.
Innovation Solution
The AMP device performs cross modulation or inter modulation on received signals to obtain a third signal, which is then processed to determine a local clock, eliminating the need for high-precision oscillators and reducing power consumption and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-precision oscillators are used to determine local clock, then timing accuracy and frequency stability are improved, but device complexity, cost, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/electronic oscillator system with a signal processing-based clock determination method. The AMP device receives two signals with different frequency offsets from a reference frequency, performs cross-modulation or inter-modulation processing to generate sum and difference frequency components, and determines the local clock from these processed signals. This substitution eliminates the need for high-precision oscillators while maintaining timing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency parameters of the received signals to enable clock determination. By receiving two signals with different frequency offsets (first frequency offset and second frequency offset) from the reference frequency, and utilizing the sum and difference of these offsets in the cross-modulation process, the system derives the local clock frequency without requiring the AMP device to generate or maintain high-precision oscillations itself.
2Measurement precision
If high-precision oscillators are used to determine local clock, then frequency stability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the power-intensive oscillator system with a low-power signal processing approach. Instead of using high-precision oscillators that consume significant power, the AMP device performs cross-modulation or inter-modulation on received signals and determines the local clock from the processed output. This substitution dramatically reduces power consumption while maintaining frequency stability.
3Device complexity
If cross modulation or inter modulation processing is performed on received signals, then local clock determination is achieved without high-precision oscillators, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the inherent non-linear characteristics of the AMP device's receiver chain to perform cross-modulation or inter-modulation processing. The device's own signal processing components naturally generate the sum and difference frequency components needed for clock determination, eliminating the need for additional dedicated hardware. This self-service approach minimizes the increase in processing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables AMP devices to determine a local clock effectively while minimizing power consumption and cost, ensuring accurate timing and frequency stability without relying on expensive oscillators.
Implementation Method 1
performing, by the AMP device, processing of cross modulation or inter modulation on the first signal and the second signal to obtain a third signal
Implementation Method 2
performing, by the AMP device, processing of cross modulation or inter modulation on the first signal and the second signal to obtain a third signal
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication method includes: receiving, by an AMP device, a first signal and a second signal; performing, by the AMP device, processing of cross modulation or inter modulation on the first signal and the second signal to obtain a third signal; and determining, by the AMP device, a local clock based on the third signal.