Reconfigurable Sensor Chip for Power-Efficient Context Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices face high power consumption due to constant sensor data acquisition, which is not efficiently managed by existing systems.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable sensor chip with configuration registers, an extraction circuit, and a classification circuit that uses a decision tree to process data from accelerometers and gyroscopes, reducing power consumption by optimizing data acquisition and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If constant sensor data acquisition is performed by the SOC, then device orientation and environmental conditions can be determined, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor data processing function by introducing a dedicated sensor processing unit that operates independently from the main SOC. This unit can process sensor data locally and only communicates with the SOC when context changes occur, thereby reducing the power consumption of constant data acquisition while maintaining orientation determination accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a context register and intermediate processing layer between the sensors and the SOC. The sensor processing unit uses configuration registers to define context parameters and stores processed context information in intermediate registers, acting as a mediator that reduces the need for continuous SOC intervention and lowers overall power consumption.
2Productivity
If sensor data is continuously processed by the SOC, then context information can be obtained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having the sensor processing unit continuously monitor sensors at low power and only trigger full context processing and SOC communication when context changes are detected. This allows high productivity context acquisition to be maintained while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous SOC processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor processing unit performs self-service by autonomously processing sensor data, evaluating context changes according to configuration registers, and managing its own operation without requiring constant SOC intervention. This self-contained processing capability maintains high context acquisition rates while minimizing power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor chip includes registers storing and outputting configuration data, an extraction circuit receiving digital data and extracting features of the digital data in accordance with the configuration data, and a classification circuit applying a decision tree to the extracted features to generate a context of an electronic device into which the sensor chip is incorporated relative to its surroundings, the decision tree operating according to the configuration data. The classification unit outputs the context to the registers for storage. The configuration data includes which features for the extraction circuit to extract from the digital data, and a structure for the decision tree. The structure for the decision tree includes conditions that the decision tree is to apply to the at least one extracted feature, and outcomes to be effectuated based upon whether the extracted features meet or do not meet the conditions.