GPS Receiver Power Suspension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
GPS receivers consume excessive power when unable to track satellites in underground or shaded locations, as they continuously wait for normal conditions to resume, leading to inefficient power usage.
Innovation Solution
A power-saving system that controls the GPS receiver's power supply based on the number of caught satellites and signal strength, suspending power when no satellites are tracked for a predetermined time, with the suspension time adjusted according to the average number of caught satellites or signal quality, allowing the receiver to conserve power while preparing for future tracking opportunities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the GPS receiver continuously prepares for future normal conditions by being supplied with power, then the GPS receiver can quickly resume positioning when conditions improve, but power is wastefully consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply to the GPS receiver is controlled periodically - turned on during positioning opportunities and turned off during prolonged periods when satellite signals are unavailable. This periodic power supply strategy eliminates continuous power consumption while maintaining system functionality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary checks to detect the presence of GPS satellites before activating the receiver. By detecting satellite presence in advance and only then powering on the receiver, the system prepares for positioning only when conditions are favorable, avoiding unnecessary power consumption while maintaining readiness.
2Use of energy by moving object
If power supply to the GPS receiver is periodically turned on and positioning is implemented only when power is supplied, then power consumption is reduced, but positioning cannot be implemented even when normal conditions are restored during forced interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors GPS signal conditions and uses this feedback to control power supply timing. When satellite signals are detected, the receiver is powered on to perform positioning. When signals are absent for prolonged periods, power is turned off. This feedback-based control ensures positioning is performed whenever conditions allow while minimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply control strategy is dynamic rather than static - it adapts based on real-time GPS signal conditions. The system adjusts power supply timing based on whether satellites are currently visible, making the power consumption pattern flexible and responsive to environmental conditions rather than following a fixed schedule.
3Measurement precision
If the GPS receiver tracks at least three GPS satellites to compute absolute position, then accurate positioning is achieved, but the receiver cannot operate in underground or shaded locations where GPS signals do not reach
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the GPS positioning function from continuous operation and separates it into discrete operational phases - the receiver is activated only when satellite signals are available and deactivated when they are not. This extraction allows the system to maintain high positioning accuracy when possible while adapting to environments where GPS signals are intermittently available.
Data Source
AI summary
A position detecting apparatus includes a GPS receiver configured to catch one or more of GPS satellites and track one or more of the satellites while receiving a GPS signal or GPS signals from one or more of the satellites. A power supply controllably feeds power to the GPS receiver. A suspension time decider decides a suspension time in accordance with at least one of (1) the number of satellites caught by the GPS receiver and (2) the level of at least one of the received GPS signals, and determines whether or not the lapse of time during which the GPS receiver continues to track no satellite reaches a prescribed time. A suspension controller controls the power supply to suspend the power feed to the GPS receiver during a term equal in length to the decided suspension time in cases where the lapse of time reaches the prescribed time.