GNSS L5 Signal Acquisition With Search Engine Power Gating
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Solution Overview
Problem
GNSS receivers consume excessive battery power due to the processing demands of acquiring L5-series signals, which have longer computation times and higher power requirements compared to L1, E1, and B1 signals.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that deactivate FFT circuitry and data buffer in the GNSS receiver when the search process is complete or terminates prematurely, optimizing power consumption by controlling the L5 search engine through a controller and processor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the FFT circuitry and search engine remain active continuously to ensure rapid GNSS signal acquisition, then the acquisition speed and reliability are improved, but the battery power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic activation of the FFT circuitry and search engine based on movement detection. The system alternates between active acquisition mode and low-power sleep mode, activating components only when movement is detected or at scheduled intervals, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining acquisition reliability when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the device's accelerometer to automatically detect movement and trigger GNSS acquisition without requiring manual user input. The accelerometer serves the dual purpose of motion sensing for application logic and motion detection for triggering signal acquisition, eliminating the need for separate user interface components
2Productivity
If the FFT circuitry is activated at high power to accelerate correlation processing, then the signal acquisition speed is improved, but the current consumption exceeds available battery capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the power state of the FFT circuitry based on real-time conditions including movement detection, time of day, and battery charge level. The system transitions between different operational modes (active, standby, sleep) with corresponding power levels, optimizing the balance between acquisition speed and power consumption based on current system state
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters such as FFT window size, correlation threshold, and search engine activation timing based on signal conditions and power availability. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system achieves acceptable acquisition performance while operating within available current constraints
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure proposes a method, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and an apparatus for acquiring Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals. The method is performed by a processor of a baseband integrated circuit (IC) in a GNSS receiver. A search request for starting a search process is received with a maximum current that can be provided to a search engine. The search engine includes a data buffer and a correlation circuitry. The correlation circuitry or the search engine is deactivated when the search process has completed or the search process terminates prematurely.