Radio Receiver Gain Control for Satellite Timepiece Power Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic timepieces that receive radio waves from positioning satellites face challenges in optimizing power consumption due to varying reception conditions, leading to excessive power consumption when uniform reception operations are not considered.
Innovation Solution
A radio receiver with a control unit that determines the reception condition based on processing conditions and adjusts the gain of the signal amplification unit accordingly, switching between high, medium, and low power modes to optimize power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high gain and low noise figure are required of RF circuits to ensure sufficient sensitivity for acquiring satellite signals, then signal reception capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic gain adjustment of the RF amplifier based on received signal strength. The control unit continuously monitors the signal level and automatically adjusts the amplifier gain to maintain optimal signal quality while minimizing power consumption. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to use lower gain (and thus lower power) when signals are strong, while increasing gain only when needed for weak signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the RF amplifier dynamically. Specifically, the gain parameter is adjusted based on the received signal strength from positioning satellites. When signal strength is sufficient, the system operates with lower gain and reduced power consumption. When signal strength is weak, the system increases gain to maintain reception capability. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between reliability and energy usage.
2Ease of operation
If uniform reception operation is performed without considering reception conditions, then operation simplicity is maintained, but power consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment of the RF amplifier gain based on automatically detected signal conditions. The control unit monitors received signal strength and autonomously adjusts the amplifier parameters without requiring user intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains operational simplicity while significantly reducing power consumption by adapting to actual reception conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously monitors the signal strength from positioning satellites and uses this information to adjust the RF amplifier gain. This closed-loop feedback system automatically optimizes power consumption based on real-time reception conditions while maintaining ease of operation, as the adjustment occurs transparently in the background.
3Reliability
If gain is increased to improve signal reception in poor conditions, then signal acquisition capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts amplifier gain based on real-time signal strength detection. When poor reception conditions are detected (weak signal strength), the control unit automatically increases the gain to improve signal acquisition capability. When good conditions are present, the gain is reduced to minimize power consumption. This dynamic behavior ensures optimal balance between reliability and energy usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the gain parameter of the RF amplifier based on detected reception conditions. The control unit monitors signal strength and adjusts the gain parameter accordingly - increasing it when signals are weak to maintain acquisition capability, and decreasing it when signals are strong to reduce power consumption. This parameter adaptation directly addresses the contradiction between signal acquisition capability and power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A radio receiver receives transmitted radio waves from positioning satellites, and includes: a signal amplification unit configured to amplify a received signal; an acquisition unit configured to acquire a satellite signal from the amplified signal; and a control unit configured to obtain predetermined information from the acquired satellite signal, determine a reception condition of transmitted radio waves based on the processing condition of at least one of the obtainment and the acquisition unit, and performs operation setting of a gain of the signal amplification unit according to the determined reception condition, wherein the control unit performs the operation setting so that the gain set in the operation setting when the reception condition is determined to be a first reception condition is smaller than the gain set in the operation setting when the reception condition is determined to be a second reception condition inferior to the first reception condition.