Backscatter Tag Modulates Radar Cross-Section for Low-Power Display Streaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices with small screens face challenges in efficiently sharing display data due to limited battery life when using existing wireless streaming methods like WiFi and Bluetooth, which are power-hungry and hinder portability.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of backscatter communications using semi-passive RFID tags integrated into mobile devices, which leverage asymmetric power budgets to provide a low-power, high-bandwidth wireless link for streaming screen images to a base station for display on remote terminals, optimizing power consumption and data throughput.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If WiFi or Bluetooth radio is used to stream display data wirelessly, then wireless connectivity is achieved, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless connectivityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a base station as an intermediary device that performs the power-intensive functions of display data capture, compression, and wireless transmission. The mobile device only needs to render the display and provide minimal processing support, acting as a simple source rather than a full streaming endpoint. This mediator approach allows wireless display streaming while keeping the mobile device's power consumption minimal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If wired connection is used to stream display data, then power consumption is minimized, but portability is frustrated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidportability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless communication system. By using wireless protocols for display data streaming, the physical cable constraint is eliminated, restoring portability while maintaining efficient power consumption through the optimized wireless implementation at the base station.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Area of stationary object

If larger display screens are used in mobile devices, then display quality improves, but battery life is negatively impacted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay screen sizeVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the power-intensive display rendering function from the mobile device and relocates it to the base station. The mobile device's display can be smaller since it only needs to render locally, while the base station handles the full-resolution display output to larger screens. This separation allows mobile devices to maintain small, power-efficient displays while still supporting large screen output through wireless streaming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution enables efficient, low-power wireless streaming of screen data with minimal impact on battery life, achieving data rates of up to 100 Mbps over short ranges, while being backwards compatible and adaptable to various environments and technologies.

Implementation Method 1

The backscatter tag of the mobile device modulates a radar cross-section of the mobile device in order to encode the display data onto a stream of reflected electromagnetic radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBackscatter communication: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3161974B1Streaming display data from a mobile device using backscatter communications
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 X DEVELOPMENT LLC
  • EP3161974B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3161974B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3161974B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of wirelessly communicating a screen image between a mobile device and a base station coupled to a display terminal includes establishing a wireless display session between the mobile device and the base station. Electromagnetic ("EM") radiation emitted from the base station is incident upon an antenna of the mobile device. The screen image is transmitted to the base station for display on the display terminal by modulating a radar cross-section of the mobile device between two or more states to encode the screen image on a backscatter channel of the EM radiation.