RF Shot Tracking Device Power Conservation During Shipping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods lack an effective solution for conserving power in radiofrequency devices during shipping, which is crucial for impact-activated devices like shot tracking devices used in golfing, as they often drain battery capacity before being paired with a receiver.

Innovation Solution

A shot tracking device with a battery life of up to 225 milli-amp hours, featuring a microprocessor that operates in sleep, sampling, analysis, and transmission modes, with a radiofrequency component only active during transmission, and a multi-axis accelerometer for movement monitoring, designed to conserve power by remaining in sleep mode until paired with a receiver, ensuring at least 90% battery capacity is maintained until activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the radiofrequency device operates continuously during shipping, then data transmission and processing can occur, but battery power is depleted before pairing with a receiver

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device dynamically transitions between operational states (sleep mode, sampling mode, transmission mode) based on environmental conditions and pairing status. The microprocessor adjusts its operational characteristics in real-time, switching from active data collection and transmission to low-power states when shipping conditions are detected, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining device functionality and conserving battery power during shipping

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device changes operational parameters such as sampling frequency, transmission intervals, and processor clock speed based on the detected state. During shipping, parameters are adjusted to minimize power consumption while maintaining the ability to function properly once paired with a receiver, effectively resolving the energy consumption issue without permanently compromising device capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If the microprocessor operates in sampling and analysis modes during shipping, then data collection is continuous, but battery capacity is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection completenessVSAvoidbattery capacity retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous operation, the device employs periodic sampling at reduced intervals during shipping mode. The microprocessor performs brief sampling cycles followed by extended low-power states, collecting essential data while preserving battery capacity. This periodic approach maintains data collection capability without the continuous power drain of full operational modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs preliminary assessments of environmental conditions and determines the shipping state in advance, then proactively transitions to appropriate power-saving modes. By detecting shipping conditions early and switching to conservation mode before significant battery depletion occurs, the device preserves battery capacity while still capturing essential data points during the shipping period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the radiofrequency component is always operable, then data transmission can occur at any time, but power consumption increases during non-transmission periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption during idle periods

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The radiofrequency component is extracted from the always-on operational state and isolated into a dedicated transmission mode that is only activated when data needs to be sent. The component remains in a low-power or off state during idle periods, eliminating unnecessary energy consumption while preserving the ability to transmit data promptly when required, thus resolving the contradiction between transmission readiness and energy loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9289670B2Method and system for power conservation of a RF device during shipping

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for conserving battery power during shipping for an impact activated device for transmitting a radiofrequency signal. The method comprises forming an impact activated device for transmitting a radiofrequency signal. The shot tracking device is shipped in commerce and received at a retailer. The shot tracking device is stored at the retailer, wherein the battery has at least 90% of its capacity until paired with a receiver.