Passive Receiver for Inventory Control Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
On-demand electronic inventory control devices, such as those used in healthcare facilities, face challenges in extending battery life due to nontrivial power consumption even in inactive modes, particularly in the receiver portion of transceivers, which rapidly drains batteries.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a passive receiver that wirelessly receives an initiation signal and generates a mode change signal to power a functional module from a self-contained power source, allowing the module to transition from an inactive to an active mode only when needed, reducing power consumption in inactive states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the receiver portion of the transceiver remains active to detect wake-up requests, then the device can respond to remote commands, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver is divided into two separate components: an active receiver that remains continuously powered to detect wake-up requests, and a functional module (transmitter and processor) that operates only when activated. This segmentation allows the receiver to maintain reliability for detecting commands while the functional module conserves energy by remaining inactive most of the time.
Solution Approach 2:
A passive RFID tag is introduced as an intermediary component between the remote control system and the functional module. The passive tag receives power from the active receiver's transmitted signal and relays wake-up requests to the functional module, enabling the module to remain completely powered off during idle periods while still responding to commands through the intermediary tag.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the functional module remains in inactive mode to conserve power, then battery life is extended, but the device cannot detect or respond to wake-up requests
Solution Approach 1:
The active receiver performs preliminary action by continuously transmitting RFID signals and detecting wake-up requests even before the functional module is activated. This preliminary detection capability ensures that when the functional module wakes up, it immediately knows a command is pending, eliminating detection delays while allowing the module to remain powered off for extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive RFID tag serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the always-on receiver and the intermittently active functional module. The tag can detect and store wake-up requests when the module is inactive, then transfer this information to the module when it becomes active, solving the detection capability problem without requiring the module to remain powered on.
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 approach significantly extends the battery life of inventory control devices by minimizing power usage during inactive periods, ensuring longer operational intervals without frequent battery replacements.
Implementation Method 1
a passive receiver that wirelessly receives an initiation signal having an associated energy field from a remote control system and to output a mode change signal. The passive receiver is configured to be powered by an energy field associated with the initiation signal
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
Systems and methods of extending battery life in inventory control devices are disclosed. A passive receiver configured to wirelessly receive an initiation signal having an associated energy field from a remote control system and to output a mode change signal is provided. The passive receiver is configured to be powered by an energy field associated with the initiation signal. A functional module coupled to the passive receiver and configured to be powered by a self-contained power source when the functional module is in an active mode is provided. The functional module is further configured to receive the mode change signal from the passive receiver and to change from an inactive mode to the active mode. The functional module draws more power from the power source in the active mode than in the inactive mode.