Fast Wireless Correlator for Low-Power Sensor Signal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart environments face challenges in detecting and processing sensory data from distributed wireless sensor networks, particularly in terms of accuracy, response time, and range, due to limitations in wireless sensor technology, including signal degradation through obstructions and varying frequency regulations.
Innovation Solution
A wireless sensing system comprising a control processor, transmitter, receive antenna, and receiver, which generates and processes coded signals to estimate environmental parameters, utilizing modulators, up/down converters, and correlators to enhance signal detection and processing, allowing for accurate and timely data collection and decision-making.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wireless sensors transmit data frequently to maintain accuracy, then measurement accuracy is improved, but battery power is consumed faster
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary signal processing and correlation operations before final data transmission. The fast correlator pre-processes incoming signals to identify and extract meaningful data patterns, allowing the sensor to transmit only processed results rather than raw continuous data, thus maintaining accuracy while reducing power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential information from continuous signal streams using the fast correlator. By separating and extracting only the relevant correlated signal components from the continuous data flow, the system transmits minimal necessary data to maintain measurement accuracy while significantly reducing transmission frequency and power consumption
2Measurement precision
If wireless sensors operate at higher frequencies to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement accuracy is improved, but operating range is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic correlation operations with predetermined patterns to process signals at higher frequencies. The fast correlator performs rapid periodic matching of incoming signals against known patterns, enabling high-frequency operation for improved accuracy while the periodic nature of the correlation allows for efficient processing that compensates for the reduced range inherent in high-frequency wireless transmission
3Length of stationary object
If wireless sensors transmit through obstructions to maintain coverage, then operating range is maintained, but signal strength is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The fast correlator acts as an intermediary signal processing component that receives weak, degraded signals through obstructions and performs correlation operations to extract and reconstruct the original signal patterns. This intermediary processing step allows the system to maintain operating range through obstructions while recovering signal strength and reliability that would otherwise be lost in direct transmission
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless sensor with fast correlator to detect a known pattern. The wireless sensor with fast correlator comprises a wireless receiver with bank of detectors and bank of correlators, a receive signal strength measurement circuit, and a control processor with timing counter. The fast correlator comprises of a shift register, an array of ENXOs gates, an array of AND gates and Delays and a final AND gate. The control processor utilizes the received information, received signal strength and timing information to estimate and calculate various environmental parameters which can be used to activate different devices.