Low Power Receiver Circuit Using Intermittent PWM Enabling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Infrared receiver modules typically consume high standby current, making them unsuitable for battery-powered devices due to high power consumption, and existing low-power modules are either expensive or difficult to produce.
Innovation Solution
A receiver circuit with low power consumption is designed, comprising a signal receiver module, an intermittent enabling module, and a wake-up circuit that enables the module only when necessary, using pulse width modulation to adjust power consumption and wake the microprocessor upon signal detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a conventional infrared receiver module is used, then the receiver can detect signals reliably, but the standby current is high (hundreds of µA), making it unsuitable for battery-powered devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by enabling the infrared receiver module only during specific time intervals through PWM-controlled enabling signals. The receiver is activated periodically to check for wake-up signals, then placed in low-power mode, thereby dramatically reducing average standby current while maintaining the ability to detect incoming signals reliably when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a self-service mechanism where the infrared receiver module autonomously detects incoming signals and triggers a wake-up interrupt to the microprocessor. This allows the receiver to operate independently in low-power mode, activating the main processor only when necessary, thus reducing overall system power consumption while ensuring reliable signal detection
2Reliability
If the infrared receiver module is continuously enabled to ensure signal detection, then reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the receiver enabling state variable rather than static. The enabling module dynamically adjusts the receiver's operational state based on received signals, transitioning between active and low-power modes. This dynamic control ensures reliable signal detection when signals are present while minimizing power consumption during idle periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through the wake-up circuit that monitors the receiver's output and provides interrupt signals to the microprocessor. When the receiver detects a valid signal, the feedback mechanism triggers the processor to wake up and handle the signal, ensuring reliable detection while allowing the system to remain in low-power state when no signals are present
3Use of energy by moving object
If low-power infrared receiver modules are selected (e.g., Sharp Corporation modules with 200 µA current), then power consumption is reduced, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs conventional, cost-effective infrared receiver modules instead of expensive low-power specialized modules. By combining these affordable modules with software-based power management and intermittent enabling techniques, the system achieves low power consumption without incurring the high costs associated with specialized low-power hardware, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves low power consumption through parameter changes in the operational mode rather than through expensive hardware selection. By changing the enabling/disabling parameters of the receiver module through PWM control and interrupt-based wake-up mechanisms, the system reduces average power consumption to match or exceed specialized low-power modules while using inexpensive, readily available components
Data Source
AI summary
A receiver circuit with low power consumption and a method for reducing power consumption of a receiver system are provided. The method for reducing power consumption of the receiver system comprises steps of: providing a signal receiver module; intermittently enabling/disabling the signal receiver module when a microprocessor is in a sleep mode; detecting whether the signal receiver module receives a signal when the signal receiver module is enabled; and waking the microprocessor up to decode the received signal if the signal receiver module receives the signal.