GPS Power Management for Hot Start Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing GPS navigation software in electronic devices often defaults to the time-consuming cold start mode when not used for extended periods, lacking efficient methods to transition to the faster hot start mode without additional hardware or increased cost.
Innovation Solution
A power management method that enables the data storage power (RTC) when the device is on, detects external power, and selectively enables or disables the master power (RF) to facilitate GPS module initialization, optimizing the transition to hot start mode without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the GPS module is powered off completely when not in use, then power consumption is reduced, but the navigation software cannot be actuated in hot start mode and must use cold start mode which takes tens of seconds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining the RTC power in a standby state even when the GPS module is powered off. This allows essential time-keeping and data storage functions to remain active, so that when the navigation software is重新启动, the GPS module can quickly resume operations in hot start mode rather than requiring a full cold start, thus reducing actuation time while still achieving power savings compared to keeping the full GPS module active
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the power supply into two distinct parts: RTC power (real-time clock power) and main GPS module power. The RTC power is maintained in a low-power standby state to preserve essential functions, while the main GPS module power can be completely switched off to save energy. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both power savings and fast reactivation by keeping only the critical time-keeping and storage components active
2Loss of time
If the GPS module maintains standby power to enable hot start mode, then software actuation time is reduced to a few seconds, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-maintaining only the essential RTC power function rather than keeping the entire GPS module in standby. This selective preliminary action keeps the time-keeping and data storage systems ready for hot start mode (enabling fast reactivation in a few seconds), while avoiding the high power consumption of maintaining the full GPS module active
Solution Approach 2:
The power system is segmented into RTC power (maintained in standby) and main GPS module power (switched off). This segmentation enables the system to achieve the benefits of hot start mode by keeping only the critical time-synchronization and storage components active, while powering down the more power-intensive GPS signal processing functions
3Loss of time
If AGPS technology is introduced to increase satellite positioning speed, then positioning time is reduced, but additional hardware is required and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing the existing RTC power infrastructure and GPS module components already present in the device. Instead of introducing external AGPS hardware, the system leverages its own time-keeping and storage capabilities to maintain hot start mode functionality, thereby achieving fast positioning without additional hardware or increased device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A power management method is applicable to an electronic device having GPS navigation software and a GPS module for executing the navigation software. First, the data storage power (i.e. the RTC power) is enabled when the electronic device is powered on, and whether the electronic device receive an external power is detected; if yes, the master power (i.e. the RF power) is enabled and the GPS module is enabled to perform an initialization process and continue detecting whether the electronic device receives an external power; it no, the master power is disabled and detecting whether the electronic device receives an external power continues. Compared with the prior art, the power management method of the present invention, by managing powers installed in the electronic device and corresponding to the GPS module, increases the possibility for the navigation software to enter the hot start mode, and advances user's convenience.