Bit-Serial Sensor Encoding With Bounded Deviation for Lower Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable computing platforms face challenges in reducing power dissipation in sensor data transmission due to limited power efficiency in bit-serial communication interfaces, as existing techniques targeting parallel buses are not applicable to bit-serial interfaces, leading to significant power consumption in sensor circuits.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of value-deviation-bounded serial (VDBS) encoders, which reduce signal transitions by allowing a controlled amount of deviation in transmitted data, thereby reducing dynamic power dissipation in serial communication interfaces, without requiring additional hardware or changes to existing interfaces like SPI and I2C.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional encoding techniques (e.g., Gray coding) are used to reduce communication power, then power dissipation is reduced in parallel buses, but these techniques are not applicable to bit-serial communication interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of data encoding from transition-minimizing codes (Gray code) to value-deviation-bounded codes. This parameter change enables the encoding scheme to be specifically optimized for bit-serial interfaces where the cost function is different, allowing significant power reduction (41%-67%) in serial communication while maintaining data integrity within acceptable deviation thresholds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data transmission problem into two independent components: (1) the encoder that minimizes signal transitions based on value deviation bounds, and (2) the receiver that reconstructs original values from encoded data. This segmentation allows the encoding strategy to be independently optimized for serial interfaces without affecting the fundamental communication protocol.
2Loss of energy
If signal transitions are reduced to lower power dissipation, then dynamic power consumption decreases, but data accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by allowing controlled data deviation within bounded thresholds. Instead of perfectly preserving all data bits, the encoder selectively minimizes signal transitions while keeping value deviations within acceptable bounds. This partial preservation strategy achieves 41%-67% power reduction while maintaining sufficient accuracy for sensor applications where small deviations are tolerable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the error tolerance deviation mechanism. The receiver calculates the deviation between received and expected values, and when deviations exceed thresholds, requests retransmission or correction. This feedback loop ensures data accuracy is maintained while allowing aggressive transition reduction in normal operation, achieving both low power consumption and high accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system receives a binary sequence from a sensor, identifies a power consuming characteristic of the binary sequence, and determines an error component configured to reduce the power consuming characteristic of the binary sequence. The system compares the error component to an error tolerance deviation, and if the error component is below the error tolerance deviation, combines the error component with the binary sequence to produce an output sequence and transmits the output sequence via a serial interface to a receiver configured to receive the output sequence. The error threshold is based in part on an error tolerance characteristic of the receiver.