Low-Power Hub Synchronizing Radio Reception Intervals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hubs in environments with rare or poor-quality electrical networks face high power consumption due to continuously active radio frequency communication, which exceeds the desired power consumption and volume limits.
Innovation Solution
A hub and detector system where the hub synchronizes its reception intervals with the transmission intervals of detectors, allowing the radio communication module to be deactivated outside these intervals, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the radio communication module is permanently active to receive signals from sensors, then the hub can continuously collect data, but the power consumption increases to between 8760 Wh and 17520 Wh per year
Solution Approach 1:
The hub and detectors use scheduled periodic transmission intervals based on synchronized clocks. Detectors transmit data at predetermined times, and the hub only activates its radio communication module during these scheduled reception intervals, replacing continuous operation with periodic action to reduce power consumption while maintaining data collection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The hub and detectors perform preliminary clock synchronization during the pairing phase before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary synchronization ensures that both parties know exactly when transmission intervals will occur, allowing the hub to pre-schedule its reception windows and avoid continuous listening, thus reducing power consumption while ensuring reliable data reception
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hub uses battery pack or solar panels with battery to supply power, then the hub can operate independently, but the volume exceeds 2 liters and consumption exceeds 5000 Wh/year
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing periodic transmission intervals with synchronized scheduling, the hub's radio communication module operates only during brief reception windows rather than continuously. This dramatically reduces average power consumption to below 5000 Wh/year, enabling the use of compact battery power sources with volume under 2 liters while maintaining independent operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the radio communication module by transitioning from continuous operation to intermittent operation based on scheduled intervals. This parameter change reduces average power consumption by a factor of 2-4 times, making compact battery power sources viable and reducing the power source volume to under 2 liters
3Use of energy by moving object
If the hub synchronizes reception intervals with detector transmission intervals, then power consumption decreases below 5000 Wh/year, but the system requires complex clock synchronization mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs clock synchronization as a preliminary action during the initial pairing phase between hub and detector. By completing synchronization before operational use, the system avoids the need for continuous or complex real-time synchronization mechanisms during data transmission, reducing overall system complexity while enabling the periodic action power-saving mode
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization mechanism uses feedback from the pairing process to establish and maintain synchronized clocks between hub and detectors. This feedback-based approach ensures that transmission and reception intervals remain aligned without requiring complex continuous synchronization, simplifying the overall system while achieving the power consumption targets
Data Source
AI summary
The hub and this detector are configured to be able to pair and synchronize with one another. This hub and the detector each include a computer program allowing them to compute intervals during which the detector can send to the hub, by a radio communication module, collection data obtained by a sensor and representing the environment of this sensor. The hub only activates its radio communication module during these intervals.