Pulse Transmission Coding for Low-Power Sensor Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transmitters with limited power reserves face inefficiencies in transmitting signals with low information depth due to power dissipation, especially in environments with periodic radio interferences, leading to potential data loss and suboptimal power usage.

Innovation Solution

The method involves transmitting digitized messages in pulses with a data transmission rate greater than 100 kbit per second, selecting a bandwidth that allows pulses to fit within intervals between periodic disturbances, and using multi-valued coding to increase information content, thereby minimizing the duration of power dissipation and interference vulnerability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the transmitter operates continuously to ensure reliable transmission, then transmission reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitter operates in periodic cycles, alternating between active transmission mode and sleep mode. During active mode, the transmitter sends data packets at specific intervals. During sleep mode, the transmitter remains inactive to conserve power. This periodic operation ensures that transmission reliability is maintained through regular data sending while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Loss of energy

If the data transmission rate is increased to reduce transmission time, then power dissipation is reduced, but the signal becomes more vulnerable to periodic interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower dissipationVSAvoidinterference vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitter dynamically adjusts its operating parameters based on detected interference patterns. When periodic interference is detected, the system adapts by modifying transmission timing to avoid interference peaks. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high transmission rates for power efficiency while simultaneously avoiding vulnerable time slots where interference occurs, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and interference susceptibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If the transmitter uses sleep mode to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but transmission responsiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidtransmission responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitter performs preliminary actions by buffering data packets and preparing transmission sequences in advance during active periods. When in sleep mode, the transmitter has pre-prepared data ready for immediate transmission upon waking. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for lengthy data processing delays after exiting sleep mode, thus maintaining fast responsiveness while still benefiting from extended sleep periods for power conservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Loss of energy

If the transmission pulse length is shortened to reduce power dissipation, then power efficiency is improved, but the information depth that can be transmitted is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower dissipationVSAvoidinformation depth

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission system segments information into multiple discrete data packets, each transmitted in separate short pulses. Instead of transmitting all information in a single long pulse that would consume excessive power, the system divides the total information content into smaller units. Each packet is transmitted in a brief pulse optimized for low power consumption, and the receiver reassembles the complete information from multiple received packets. This segmentation enables the system to maintain low power dissipation while still conveying deep information content through cumulative transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7570703B2Method for transmitting a digitized message of little information depth

Publication Date: 2009.08.04 ENOCEAN

AI summary

A method for transmitting a digital message of little depth of information such as, e.g. measured values of sensors by transmitters, for example wireless sensors with little power reserves, in which the data are transmitted in pulses and each transmitted pulse transmits the data with a data transmission rate of more than 100 kbit per second. To further optimize the transmission method, the information content of an individual transmitted pulse is increased by time- or position-coding.