Reconfigurable Sensor Chip for Power-Constrained Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices face high power consumption due to constant sensor data acquisition, necessitating a solution to reduce energy usage while maintaining functionality.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable sensor chip system that includes a programmable logic device (PLD) and classification unit, allowing for adjustable feature extraction and processing based on configuration data, enabling switching between low and high power consumption modes and selectively acquiring data from accelerometers and gyroscopes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the system operates in high power consumption mode to extract more features and process more data, then measurement precision and device functionality are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power mode switching between low and high power consumption modes based on device context. The system adapts its operational state by selecting appropriate feature extraction algorithms and processing intensities according to current device orientation, activity type, and environmental conditions, thereby optimizing the balance between measurement precision and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters such as feature extraction depth, data sampling rate, and processing algorithm complexity based on configured power modes. Configuration registers allow dynamic adjustment of these parameters to switch between low-power operation with minimal feature extraction and high-power operation with comprehensive feature analysis, directly addressing the precision-power tradeoff.
2Reliability
If the system continuously acquires sensor data to maintain device functionality, then device orientation and environmental condition determination are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic data acquisition with variable sampling intervals based on device state. Instead of continuous acquisition, the system periodically samples sensor data at rates adapted to current operational needs - using lower sampling rates during stable states and increasing rates during dynamic transitions, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit performs self-service by autonomously determining device context and autonomously adjusting its data acquisition and processing behavior. The system monitors its own operational state and automatically configures power modes and feature extraction parameters without requiring external control, enabling it to maintain functionality while minimizing power consumption through intelligent self-regulation.
3Measurement precision
If the system processes more digital data through the PLD and classification unit, then context determination accuracy is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data processing pipeline into distinct functional blocks: sensor data acquisition, feature extraction by PLD, context determination by classification unit, and result output. Each segment operates with optimized complexity appropriate to its function, allowing the system to achieve high context determination accuracy through coordinated simple operations rather than requiring a single complex processing unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The classification unit is designed as a reconfigurable multi-function device that can perform different context determination algorithms based on configured power modes. The same hardware unit adapts its processing complexity to match current operational requirements, providing high accuracy when needed while reducing processing complexity during low-power operation, thereby achieving universality across different operational states.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor chip is mounted on a PCB and electrically connected to a SOC mounted on the PCB via at least one conductive trace. The sensor chip includes configuration registers storing and outputting configuration data, and a PLD receiving digital data. The PLD performs an extraction of features of the digital data in accordance with the configuration data, and the configuration data includes changeable parameters of the extraction. A classification unit processes the extracted features of the digital data so as to generate a context of an electronic device into which the sensor chip is incorporated relative to its surroundings, the processing being performed in using a processing technique operating in accordance with the configuration data. The configuration data also includes changeable parameters of the processing technique. The classification unit outputs the context to data registers for storage.