RF Receiver Wake-Up Signal Detection Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wake-up signal technologies for sensor nodes in wireless sensor networks suffer from high power consumption due to the RF receiving unit being in a constant wake-up mode, limiting the reduction of power consumption.

Innovation Solution

The RF receiving unit operates for a predetermined amount of time to detect the start of frame delimiter (SFD), and upon detection, it continues to operate to receive the wake-up signal, minimizing power consumption by using a duty-cycled manner and dividing amplification circuits into first and second amplifiers for reduced power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the RF receiving unit operates in constant wake-up mode to monitor wake-up signals, then the reliability of wake-up signal detection is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewake-up signal detection reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The RF receiving unit operates in periodic wake-up cycles instead of constant operation. It wakes up at predetermined intervals to check for wake-up signals, then returns to sleep mode. This periodic operation maintains the ability to detect wake-up signals while dramatically reducing average power consumption compared to constant wake-up mode operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of wake-up signals during brief wake-up periods before fully activating the sensor node. By checking for signals in advance during scheduled wake-up times, the system can avoid full activation when no signals are present, thereby saving power while ensuring reliable detection when signals do occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the RF receiving unit operates for extended periods to ensure complete signal reception, then the reliability of signal detection is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal detection reliabilityVSAvoidreceiving time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses partial action by operating the RF receiving unit for only the minimum necessary duration during each wake-up cycle to detect the presence of wake-up signals. Rather than continuously receiving signals for extended periods, the unit performs brief checks at strategic intervals, using just enough operation time to reliably detect signals while minimizing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8675688B2Apparatus and method of transmitting and receiving wake-up signal

Publication Date: 2014.03.18 ELECTRONICS & TELECOMM RES INST

AI summary

Provided are an apparatus and method of transmitting and receiving a wake-up signal. The method of receiving a wake-up signal includes the following: operating a radio frequency (RF) receiving unit that receives a wireless signal through an antenna during an SFD detecting time, wherein the SFD detecting time is shorter than a predetermined SFD detecting time period, according to the predetermined SFD detecting time period and detecting a start of frame delimiter (SFD) to indicate that the received wireless signal is a wake-up signal to wake-up a node in a sleep mode; and detecting the wake-up signal by continuously operating the RF receiving unit when the SFD is detected. Power consumption that is used to receive the wake-up signal can be reduced.