Scanner Regulator Voltage Switching for Low-Power Suspend Mode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging devices face reduced battery life due to an inability to adequately reduce current draws of components during suspend mode, despite incorporating increasing features and components.
Innovation Solution
A suspension routine dynamically adjusts the voltage of a first voltage regulator from a first level to a second level, reducing power consumption in components like a microcontroller, illumination system, and imager during suspend mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the scanning device enters suspend mode to reduce battery demand, then battery life is improved, but current draw of components cannot be adequately reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage regulation by adjusting the voltage regulator output based on operational state. During suspend mode, the microcontroller detects the mode transition and dynamically lowers the voltage regulator output voltage from its normal operating level to a reduced level, thereby reducing current draw while maintaining essential functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage parameter of the voltage regulator based on operational state. The microcontroller monitors system state and adjusts the regulator voltage parameter accordingly - maintaining normal voltage during active operation and reducing it during suspend mode to minimize power consumption while preserving the ability to quickly resume normal operation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If voltage regulator output is reduced during suspend mode, then power consumption is decreased, but device must quickly restore voltage upon activation
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller is pre-programmed with suspend mode handling routines that automatically execute upon detecting suspend conditions. When activation is needed, the microcontroller immediately restores the voltage regulator output to normal operating levels and reinitializes peripheral devices, ensuring rapid recovery without requiring manual intervention or complex sequencing.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for dynamically changing regulator voltage of a scanning device having an illumination system and an imager to reduce current consumption during a suspend mode are disclosed herein. An example method includes detecting, by a microcontroller of the scanning device, an indication to initiate the suspend mode of the scanning device. The example method further includes adjusting, by the microcontroller executing a suspension routine, the voltage of a first voltage regulator of the scanning device from a first level to a second level, wherein the first voltage regulator provides power for use by (i) the microcontroller, (ii) the illumination system, and (iii) the imager, and the first level is less than the second level.