Intermittent Beacon Detection for Low-Power Communication Devices

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication technologies face challenges in reducing power consumption during the active mode while maintaining satisfactory link stability and detection accuracy, as they often require continuous activation of all receiving functions regardless of beacon signal presence.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an intermittent energy detection method where a communication device intermittently turns on and off specific receiving functions based on energy threshold detection, using varying current values to minimize power consumption without compromising detection accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all receiving functions are continuously activated to detect beacon signals, then detection accuracy and link stability are maintained, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelink stabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving functions are divided into multiple parts (first part and second part) that can be activated independently. The first part performs energy detection with lower power consumption, while the second part performs complete beacon signal reception only when necessary, resolving the contradiction between continuous detection and power saving

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the activation state of receiving functions based on real-time energy detection results. When energy threshold is exceeded, the second part is activated; otherwise, it remains inactive, enabling adaptive power management that maintains link stability while reducing average power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If receiving functions are activated intermittently to reduce power consumption, then average power consumption decreases, but detection accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The first part of receiving functions performs preliminary energy detection before activating the second part. This preliminary action filters out false negatives by detecting energy thresholds in advance, ensuring that complete beacon signal reception is only triggered when truly necessary, thus maintaining detection accuracy while saving power

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from energy detection results to control the activation of receiving functions. The energy detection outcome feeds back to the controller, which adjusts the activation state accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that maintains detection accuracy while optimizing power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Use of energy by moving object

If the wireless terminal operates in sleep mode to minimize power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the terminal cannot detect beacon signals during sleep periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbeacon detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic activation of receiving functions in a structured pattern: sleep mode for most of the time, with periodic awakenings to the first part for energy detection, and selective activation of the second part when needed. This periodic action pattern reduces average power consumption while maintaining beacon detection capability when required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3768000B1Energy detection method with low power consumption and communication device thereof
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 REALTEK SEMICON CORP
  • EP3768000B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3768000B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3768000B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An energy detection method includes the following steps: controlling a communication device (STA) to enter a sleep mode during a first time interval (T1); intermittently turning on and turning off a part of receiving functions of the communication device (STA) during a second time interval (T2), in which the second time interval (T2) is after the first time interval (T1), and when the part of receiving functions of the communication device (STA) are turned on, the communication device (STA) is controlled to receive a signal; and determining if a beacon signal is present according to energy of the signal received by the communication device (STA). First average power consumption of the communication device (STA) during the second time interval (T2) is smaller than second average power consumption of the communication device (STA), in which the second average power consumption corresponds to enabling all receiving functions of the communication device (STA).