Injection-Locked OOK Modulator for Fast Startup at Low Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current OOK modulation devices in millimeter bands face limitations in achieving high data rates while maintaining low power consumption, particularly in nomadic applications where energy efficiency is crucial.

Innovation Solution

The proposed OOK modulation device employs an injection-locked oscillator with a resonant circuit and a crossed pair of field-effect transistors, utilizing a periodic signal supply and an unbalance transistor to accelerate startup and reduce power consumption, enabling higher data rates without increasing energy usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the oscillator is switched on and off continuously to achieve OOK modulation, then power consumption is reduced, but the startup time increases and data rate is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-biasing the oscillator circuit before switching it on. The unbalancing transistor is activated beforehand to set up the necessary conditions for rapid oscillation startup, allowing the oscillator to reach full amplitude quickly after power is applied, thus enabling high data rates without increasing power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If the oscillator startup is accelerated by unbalancing techniques, then data rate increases, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestartup speedVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic action by using pulsed control signals to activate the unbalancing transistor only during the brief startup period. The transistor is switched on momentarily to establish oscillation, then turned off to maintain the oscillating state without continuous power consumption, achieving fast startup with minimal energy expenditure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If the oscillator is left running continuously to enable fast switching, then data rate is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the oscillator circuit configurable between different operational states. The unbalancing transistor allows the circuit to dynamically transition from a low-power standby state to a high-performance oscillating state on demand, optimizing the balance between power consumption and data rate based on actual communication needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 allows for faster startup and higher data rates while maintaining low power consumption, making it suitable for energy-efficient high-speed communications in millimeter bands.

Implementation Method 1

a resonant circuit, for example of the LC type

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP3979582B1Device for ook modulation
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
  • EP3979582B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3979582B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3979582B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

Device (100) for OOK modulation of an input signal, comprising at least: - an injection locked oscillator (102) comprising a power supply input (104), an injection signal input (106) and an output (108) on which the modulated signal OOK is intended to be delivered; - a first controlled switch (110) comprising a control input (114) to which the input signal is intended to be applied, and configured to couple or not an electrical power source (112) to the input of power supply of the injection locked oscillator according to the value of the input signal; - a periodic signal supply device (116) configured to supply on an output (118), which is electrically coupled to the injection signal input of the injection locked oscillator, a periodic injection signal whose frequency and amplitude trigger a lock of the injection locked oscillator on the frequency of the injection signal or a multiple of this frequency.