RF Sensing Controller With Sleep Cycles and Minimum Tx Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiofrequency-based sensing arrangements face inefficiencies in power resource utilization, particularly in battery-operated devices, due to continuous active radio operation leading to rapid battery depletion and limited flexibility in sensor placement.
Innovation Solution
A controller is employed to manage transmitter and receiver nodes in active and sleep modes, determining a minimum transmission power and alternating cycles to maintain reliable communication links, optimizing power usage and extending battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the transmitter node operates continuously in active mode to maintain reliable communication links, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter node alternates between active mode and sleep mode in periodic cycles. During active mode, the node transmits wireless communication signals at determined preferred transmission power levels to maintain communication links. During sleep mode, the node reduces power consumption by not transmitting signals. The controller manages these periodic transitions to balance communication reliability with power conservation, allowing the system to achieve reliable sensing functionality while extending battery operational life.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the transmitter node operates in sleep mode to conserve power, then power efficiency is improved, but communication link reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the controller receives information about communication link quality and activity detection requirements. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts the timing and duration of active cycles to ensure that transmission power is sufficient to maintain reliable communication links during active periods while maximizing sleep mode duration for power conservation. The feedback loop allows the system to adapt to changing conditions and maintain reliability thresholds even with reduced active operation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller determines preferred transmission power levels by evaluating communication conditions and adjusts this parameter dynamically. By optimizing transmission power to the minimum necessary level for reliable communication, the system reduces power consumption during active mode. Additionally, the duration and frequency of active versus sleep cycles are adjusted as controllable parameters to balance reliability requirements with power efficiency goals.
3Reliability
If transmission power is increased to ensure reliable communication, then communication quality is improved, but battery depletion occurs more rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously transmitting at high power levels, the system applies partial action by transmitting at optimized power levels only during necessary active periods. The controller determines preferred transmission power amounts that are sufficient for reliable communication but not excessive, and limits transmission to specific time windows when activity detection is required. This partial operation approach maintains communication quality while significantly reducing overall power consumption and extending battery life.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is directed to a controller (100) for controlling a radiofrequency-based sensing arrangement (150) that comprises at least a transmitter node (152) configured to provide wireless communication signals (S) and a receiver node (152) configured to receive the provided wireless communication signals, wherein at least the transmitter node is operable in an active mode (AM) and in a sleep mode (SM). The controller is configured to determine a preferred transmission power amount (Pmin) and to control operation of at least the transmitter node in accordance with a signal provision schedule (SP) that alternates active cycles where the transmitter node is operated in the active mode and sleep cycles are the transmitter node is operated in the sleep mode. In the active mode, the wireless communication signals are provided with the determined preferred transmission power amount, thus enabling an efficient use of the power resources.