MAC Staged Wake-Up for Wireless Power Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power-saving mechanisms in wireless communication devices exhibit substantial latencies for entering and leaving sleep mode, requiring complex hardware and software support, which restricts power savings and increases circuit complexity.
Innovation Solution
A programmable state machine (PSM) in the MAC layer controls sleep and wake-up modes, allowing for staged wake-up and selective reactivation of necessary modules based on detected conditions, reducing latency and hardware overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional power-saving mechanisms are used to reduce power consumption, then power savings are achieved, but substantial latencies occur for entering and leaving sleep mode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wake-up process into multiple stages: first activating only the necessary modules required to handle the specific wake-up condition, then progressively activating additional modules as needed. This staged approach eliminates the need to activate all modules simultaneously, thereby reducing the latency for leaving sleep mode while maintaining effective power savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic module activation where the system transitions from a static all-or-nothing wake-up approach to a dynamic staged activation approach. Modules are activated on-demand based on the specific wake-up condition and processing requirements, optimizing the balance between power savings and response time.
2Use of energy by moving object
If complex hardware and software support is provided for power management, then power-saving capabilities are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service mechanisms where the system automatically determines which modules need activation based on wake-up conditions without requiring complex external control logic. The processor and modules autonomously manage their own activation states, reducing the need for elaborate signaling mechanisms and complex control software.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of modules dynamically, transitioning them between active and inactive states based on specific conditions. This parameter-based control simplifies the management complexity compared to traditional approaches that require complex state machine transitions and elaborate signaling protocols.
3Speed
If all modules are reactivated simultaneously upon wake-up, then system responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the module reactivation process into priority-based stages, activating only the essential modules first that are necessary to handle the wake-up condition. Non-essential modules are activated subsequently, allowing the system to become responsive quickly while avoiding the immediate power consumption surge of activating all modules simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by activating only the necessary subset of modules required to handle the specific wake-up condition, rather than activating all modules. This selective activation achieves sufficient system responsiveness for the given condition while minimizing power consumption during the wake-up transition.
Data Source
AI summary
A power management scheme for a wireless communications device processor substantially implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. By incorporating controls for sleep and wake-up mode transitions in the processor's control logic, improved power savings with reduced latency is provided, obviating the need for hardware-focused solutions with elaborate signaling mechanisms. A fully integrated power management with staged wake-up operations controlled by the MAC solution consumes less power than the conventional wireless LAN solutions in standby mode.