Wireless Receiver Power Mode Circuit for Signal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication devices operating at high carrier frequencies face significant power consumption issues due to atmospheric losses, making it prohibitive for portable devices, and existing power management techniques are inefficient in detecting wake-up signals without synchronizing communication.
Innovation Solution
A power-consumption-mode circuit that detects wake-up signals using non-coherent and non-synchronous power measurements from antenna elements, allowing devices to switch from a reduced power mode to an active mode based on signal metrics, facilitating directional communication path determination and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless devices operate at high carrier frequencies to enable communication, then communication capability is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes: a reduced power-consumption mode where only wake-up signal detection is performed, and an active mode where full communication functions are enabled. This dynamic adaptation allows the device to operate at high carrier frequencies only when necessary, significantly reducing average power consumption while maintaining communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device periodically monitors for wake-up signals in the reduced power mode, transitioning to active mode only when a wake-up signal is detected. This periodic monitoring approach enables the system to maintain communication readiness without continuously consuming high power, resolving the contradiction between communication capability and power consumption.
2Speed
If devices continuously monitor for wake-up signals to enable quick mode switching, then responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic power management by switching between reduced power mode and active mode based on wake-up signal detection. During extended idle periods, the device operates in low-power mode with minimal monitoring, and only transitions to active mode when a wake-up signal is detected, optimizing the balance between responsiveness and power consumption.
3Measurement precision
If devices use complex synchronization techniques to detect wake-up signals accurately, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the wake-up signal detection function from the main communication circuitry. The wake-up signal detector operates independently in the reduced power mode without requiring full synchronization with the communication circuit, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining detection precision through dedicated detection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary wake-up signal detection before initiating full communication synchronization. This preliminary action allows the device to accurately detect wake-up signals in reduced power mode without requiring the complex synchronization techniques that would be needed for full communication operation, thereby reducing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a circuit are described. In this circuit, a receiver includes at least one input node that receives one or more signals from one or more antenna elements. Note that a given signal from a given antenna element may have an associated fixed bandwidth and/or may include directional information corresponding to a region in a space. Moreover, the receiver includes a measurement circuit, coupled to at least the one input node, that determines whether a metric of the given signal exceeds a corresponding threshold. Additionally, control logic in the circuit, which is coupled to the measurement circuit, instructs a communication circuit in the circuit to exit a first power-consumption mode if the metric of at least one of the signals exceeds the corresponding threshold.