Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling in Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication devices fail to aggressively utilize dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) to maximize battery life, leading to significant current drain savings being untapped, especially in packet communication applications.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication device and method that incorporates a monitoring module and a dynamic scaling module to vary voltage and frequency in real-time based on processing needs, switching between performance and default modes to ensure adequate performance while minimizing excess current consumption, using parameters from control channels to predict processing requirements for packet data channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If voltage and frequency are maintained at high levels to support high data rates, then data rate capability is improved, but current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) that continuously adapts the operating voltage and frequency of the baseband processing means to the actual processing load requirements. The system transitions from static high-performance settings to dynamic adjustment, scaling down voltage and frequency when processing demand is low, thereby reducing current consumption while maintaining adequate data rate capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters (voltage and frequency) of the processing system based on real-time monitoring of processing requirements. By adjusting these physical parameters dynamically rather than maintaining fixed high levels, the system achieves both high data rate capability when required and reduced current consumption during lower-demand periods.
2Use of energy by moving object
If long term averaging methods are used to scale voltage and frequency, then some current drain savings are achieved, but the scaling rate is too slow to maximize battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a monitoring means that predicts future processing requirements in advance based on current and historical data patterns. This preliminary assessment allows the system to proactively adjust voltage and frequency before processing demands actually arise, enabling faster response compared to reactive long-term averaging methods and maximizing current drain savings without compromising performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the monitoring means continuously observes processing load characteristics and uses this information to dynamically control voltage and frequency scaling. This closed-loop control enables the system to respond quickly to changing conditions, achieving both fast scaling rate and maximum current drain savings by adjusting parameters based on real-time feedback rather than slow averaging.
3Duration of action of moving object
If aggressive dynamic voltage and frequency scaling is implemented, then battery life is maximized, but performance shortfalls may occur if scaling is too aggressive
Solution Approach 1:
By predicting processing requirements in advance, the system can aggressively scale down voltage and frequency during low-demand periods to maximize battery life, while ensuring that scaling up occurs promptly when higher performance is needed. This predictive capability allows more aggressive scaling without risking performance shortfalls, as the system is already prepared for upcoming demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous feedback mechanism ensures that the system maintains reliability by monitoring actual processing performance and adjusting voltage/frequency accordingly. The feedback loop prevents overly aggressive scaling that would cause performance deficiencies while still enabling significant battery life extension through optimized power management.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless communication device (200), including: a housing (210); a controller (220), the controller (220) configured to control the operations of the wireless communication device; memory (270) coupled to the controller (220); a transceiver (250) coupled to the controller (220), the transceiver (250) configured to send and receive wireless signals; the receive signal includes at least a control channel and a packet data channel, the control channel being configured to provide the modulation and encoding and/or decoding information necessary to process a subsequent packet of data received by the transceiver (250) or in preparation for transmission by the transceiver (250); a monitoring module (290) for monitoring the control channel and controlling a dynamic scaling module (295), the monitoring module (290) reads a parameter field from the control channel which is used to determine that the data message has certain processing needs meeting a certain threshold; the dynamic scaling module (295) is configured to provide energy savings by varying the voltage and frequency of a controller, substantially real-time, according to processing needs, including: (i) a performance mode when the certain threshold is met; and (ii) a default mode when the certain threshold is not met.