Wireless Node RF Oscillator Calibration Without Quartz Crystals

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless systems rely on bulky quartz crystals for precise timing and frequency references, limiting miniaturization and increasing costs, necessitating improved methods for precise timing and frequency references in wireless networks.

Innovation Solution

A wireless network architecture that includes a master node with a master clock and a slave node with a tunable RF receiver and oscillator, allowing the slave node to search for and synchronize with the master node's frequency using calibration signals, enabling communication without the need for quartz crystals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If quartz crystals are used for precise timing and frequency references, then frequency accuracy and stability are improved, but device size and material cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency accuracyVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the quartz crystal component from the wireless device entirely. Instead of using a quartz crystal for frequency reference, the system extracts frequency information from calibration signals received from a master node, eliminating the need for bulky quartz crystals while maintaining frequency accuracy through software-based frequency determination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical quartz crystal oscillator with an electronic/software-based frequency determination system. The slave node uses a processor to analyze calibration signals and determine frequency information, substituting the mechanical vibration-based quartz crystal with an electronic signal processing approach that achieves the same frequency reference function without the physical bulk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If quartz crystals are used for precise timing and frequency references, then frequency accuracy and stability are improved, but material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency accuracyVSAvoidmaterial cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive quartz crystals with cheaper integrated circuit components and software algorithms. The frequency reference function is achieved through processing calibration signals using standard processors and memory, which are significantly less costly than quartz crystal components, especially when eliminated from the bill of materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Volume of moving object

If a tunable RF receiver and oscillator system is used instead of quartz crystals, then device size and cost are reduced, but frequency synchronization complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidfrequency synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces calibration signals as an intermediary mechanism to simplify frequency synchronization. The master node transmits calibration signals that contain encoded frequency information, which the slave node's processor decodes to automatically determine the correct frequency. This intermediary calibration signal approach simplifies the synchronization process compared to direct oscillator tuning, as it provides explicit frequency guidance through the calibration protocol

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10958249B2Time synchronized networks of wireless nodes and the wireless nodes

Publication Date: 2021.03.23 RGT UNIV OF CALIFORNIA

AI summary

A wireless network includes a tunable RF transmitter in wireless communication with a master node to transmit at a first slave frequency; a tunable RF receiver in wireless communication with the master node to receive at a second slave frequency; and an RF oscillator to communicate with the RF receiver and the RF transmitter an RF oscillator frequency to determine and tune the first and second slave frequencies. The RF oscillator is configured to receive calibration information including time information or frequency information, or both, from a reference node. The RF oscillator frequency of the RF oscillator is tuned based on the calibration information from the reference node to enable communication between the slave node and the master node at the tuned RF oscillator frequency.