Energy Harvesting Node Power Feedback for Duty Cycle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, face challenges in managing energy harvesting devices' power consumption effectively, leading to skipped communications or sensing operations due to insufficient energy, which affects efficiency and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that enable energy harvesting devices to obtain energy from wireless transmissions and transmit power consumption indications to network nodes, allowing for optimized energy transfer and duty cycle management, ensuring continuous communication and sensing without energy shortages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If energy harvesting devices operate without power consumption management, then device complexity is reduced, but communication and sensing operations are skipped due to insufficient energy
Solution Approach 1:
The device measures its own power consumption from harvested energy and feeds back this information to the network node. This feedback mechanism enables the network to adjust energy transfer and duty cycle parameters dynamically, ensuring continuous operation without requiring complex local power management logic at the device level.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy harvesting device autonomously measures its power consumption and reports it to the network node without external intervention. This self-measurement and self-reporting capability allows the device to participate in optimized energy management while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Power
If the device transmits power consumption indications frequently, then energy transfer optimization is improved, but wireless communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device transmits power consumption indications selectively rather than continuously - specifically when power consumption measurements are available and when energy transfer optimization would benefit from this information. This partial action approach provides sufficient optimization data while minimizing communication overhead and energy expenditure.
3Measurement precision
If the device performs sensing operations continuously, then sensing accuracy is improved, but energy consumption exceeds harvested energy availability
Solution Approach 1:
The duty cycle for sensing operations is dynamically adjusted based on the device's power consumption measurements and harvested energy availability. The network node configures variable duty cycles that allow continuous sensing when energy is abundant and reduced sensing intervals when energy is limited, maintaining sensing accuracy within available energy constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (duty cycle, sensing interval, energy transfer timing) based on measured power consumption and energy availability. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system optimizes the balance between sensing accuracy and energy consumption to match harvested energy levels.
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 ensures energy-efficient communication and sensing by preventing skipped operations due to energy deficits, enhancing the reliability and performance of energy harvesting devices in wireless communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
obtain, via at least one energy harvesting operation, energy from a wireless transmission
Data Source
AI summary
A method of wireless communication at a device that supports energy harvesting is disclosed herein. The method includes obtaining, via at least one energy harvesting operation, energy from a wireless transmission. The method further includes transmitting, for a network node, an indication of power consumption of the device for at least one of wireless communications or sensing at the device.