Digital Radio Power Management with Tuner Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-tuner digital radio systems lack effective power control features, leading to excessive power consumption when devices are turned off, which is a concern for both car stereos and battery-powered mobile devices, as they continue to drain batteries even when not in use.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a power-saving mode that automatically or manually activates when the device is turned off, reducing power to unused components, such as tuners and memory, and prioritizing power to essential stations, with the ability to dynamically adjust power distribution based on user needs, and utilizing low-power memory devices like SRAM or flash for data storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all tuners and memory devices remain powered on to monitor multiple stations, then the radio system can provide comprehensive station monitoring and user-selected favorite stations, but power consumption increases excessively draining the battery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestation monitoring capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power supply to different tuner circuits and memory devices, allowing selective powering of only those components needed for monitored stations. The system divides the multi-tuner architecture into independently controllable power domains, so that when a station is not being monitored, its associated tuner and memory can be powered down while other stations continue to be monitored.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic power management where the power state of tuners and memory devices changes based on real-time monitoring needs. The system dynamically transitions components between powered-on and powered-off states according to whether their associated stations are currently being monitored, allowing adaptive power consumption adjustment while maintaining monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If power is removed from unused tuners to save battery power, then power consumption is reduced, but the system loses the ability to monitor additional stations beyond the powered-on tuners

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidstation monitoring flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading station data and configuration information into memory devices before powering down tuners. This allows the system to quickly restore monitoring capability when needed, as the foundational data is already in place and only requires activation of the tuner circuit rather than complete system reinitialization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs self-service mechanisms where the radio automatically manages power distribution to tuners and memory based on current monitoring requirements without user intervention. The system monitors its own state and autonomously powers down unused components while maintaining the capability to quickly reactivate them when stations need to be monitored.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8868023B2Digital radio systems and methods

Publication Date: 2014.10.21 3D RADIO

AI summary

A system, apparatus, method, and media directed to power control in the field of digital radio systems are provided. For example, an apparatus, method, or medium can be implemented to enter a radio into lower power mode, store radio programming with reduced functionality, and resume normal power mode.