Non-Coherent OFDM Wake-Up Modulation for Low-Power Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication technologies face challenges in reducing power consumption during low-power modes, particularly when using wake-up signals (WUS) due to the need for costly synchronization and multi-carrier-based receivers, which are inefficient in scenarios with tight reachability requirements and extended DRX cycles.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a non-coherent modulation scheme, such as OOK or FSK, for wake-up signals, which are shaped and modulated onto OFDM subcarriers, allowing detection by a low-power receiver without requiring synchronization, and cutting and cropping the reference signal to fit within multiple OFDM symbols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional multi-carrier-based receivers are used for wake-up signal detection, then detection capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewake-up signal detection capabilityVSAvoidreceiver power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wake-up signal is segmented into multiple orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, each carrying a portion of the signal. This segmentation allows the receiver to process the signal in smaller, more energy-efficient units while maintaining detection capability through the cumulative information from multiple symbols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic transmission of wake-up signals across multiple OFDM symbols with specific periodicity patterns. This periodic structure enables low-power receivers to detect signals through correlation over time without requiring continuous high-power operation, thus reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliable detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If synchronization procedures are implemented for wake-up signal detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal detection accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates preliminary synchronization information directly into the wake-up signal structure itself, rather than requiring separate synchronization procedures. The signal design includes inherent reference patterns and known sequences that enable automatic correlation-based detection without complex preliminary synchronization steps, thus maintaining accuracy while reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The wake-up signal uses repeated copies of known reference patterns across multiple OFDM symbols. This copying approach enables simple correlation-based detection at the receiver, where the known patterns are compared against received signals to achieve accurate detection without requiring complex synchronization mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Length of stationary object

If wake-up signal duration is extended to improve reachability, then coverage is improved, but power consumption during listening increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal durationVSAvoidterminal listening energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses periodic transmission of wake-up signals across multiple OFDM symbols, allowing terminals to listen intermittently rather than continuously. The periodic structure enables energy-efficient detection where the terminal can correlate received signals with expected patterns at specific intervals, extending effective coverage without requiring continuous high-power listening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The extended wake-up signal is divided into multiple segments across different OFDM symbols. This segmentation allows terminals to process information in discrete, energy-efficient units rather than requiring continuous processing of a long uninterrupted signal, thus extending reachability while controlling power consumption during listening periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3841717B1Orthogonal frequency division multiplex and non-coherent demodulation
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3841717B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3841717B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3841717B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A method includes obtaining a reference signal waveform (b, b 1 -b 5 ) which is defined in accordance with a non-coherent modulation scheme. The method also includes - shaping the reference signal waveform (b, b 1 -b 5 ) to obtain at least one signal waveform (x~) associated with one or more subcarriers (K) of a plurality of subcarriers (301-303). The method further includes inputting the at least one signal waveform to at least one corresponding channel (1552) of a multi-channel orthogonal frequency division multiplex, OFDM, modulator (F, 1502, 1503, 1504) and transmitting an OFDM symbol (s) output by the OFDM modulator (F, 1502, 1503, 1504).