Backscatter Zero-Power Terminal Communication With RF Energy Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems, such as LTE and NR, are too complex to meet the communication requirements of zero power terminals, which have limited power supply, small data transmission capacity, and limited processing capabilities, and cannot receive or transmit signals until they harvest power from radio waves.
Innovation Solution
A zero power communication system that includes a zero power terminal capable of harvesting power from radio waves using a power harvesting module and communicating through back scattering technology, with a simplified communication architecture involving access network nodes, core network nodes, data center nodes, and service control nodes, allowing communication without active signal transmission or power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current communication systems (LTE, NR) are used for zero power terminals, then communication capability is provided, but system complexity is too high for the terminal's limited processing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes complex protocol stack layers (PDCP, RLC, MAC) from the zero power terminal, retaining only the essential PHY layer functionality. This extraction principle reduces terminal complexity while maintaining core communication capabilities through network-side compensation functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device assumes multiple functions that would traditionally be distributed across terminal and network. The network performs scheduling, resource allocation, and protocol processing that would otherwise require complex terminal processing, making the system adaptable to ultra-low-power terminals.
2Reliability
If zero power terminal uses traditional battery and active signal transmission, then communication is enabled, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional active RF transmission mechanism with passive backscattering. Instead of generating and transmitting active radio signals requiring power amplifiers and oscillators, the terminal modulates incident RF signals by varying its impedance, achieving communication without active power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The zero power terminal harvests power from incident RF signals and uses these same signals for communication backscattering. The system serves itself by converting received energy into both power supply and communication carrier, eliminating the need for external batteries.
3Power
If zero power terminal harvests power from radio waves, then power supply is obtained, but terminal cannot receive or transmit signals before power is obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power threshold mechanism as an intermediary state. The terminal continuously monitors harvested power and transitions from sleep to active state when threshold is reached, enabling seamless power-to-communication transition without signal loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal performs preliminary power harvesting and threshold detection before engaging in signal transmission. This preliminary action ensures power availability is confirmed before communication activities begin, preventing transmission failures due to insufficient power.
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
Enables communication for zero power terminals with low complexity, meeting their specific requirements by leveraging power harvesting and back scattering communication, reducing the need for traditional batteries and complex RF links, and allowing signal transmission without active power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the zero power terminal obtains power by harvesting power from radio waves
Implementation Method 2
communicating through back scattering technology, with a simplified communication architecture
Data Source
AI summary
A zero power consumption communication system, a communication method and a zero power terminal are provided. The system includes at least one of: a zero power consumption terminal capable of communicating with an access network node; the access network node capable of communicating with at least one of the zero power consumption terminal or a core network node; the core network node capable of communicating with at least one of the access network node, the data center node or the service control node; the data center node capable of communicating with at least one of the core network node or the service control node; and the service control node capable of communicating with at least one of the core network node or the data center node.