SDR Radio Receiver Decimation for Low-Power Sampling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radio receivers in battery-operated sensor arrays face challenges in precisely matching sampling rates, leading to high energy consumption and reduced data transmission quality, especially in narrowband transmissions, due to the limitations of existing radio chips and A/D converters.

Innovation Solution

A radio receiver design that includes a receiving device feeding data to a microcontroller for decimation and temporary storage, using a clock generator to set precise sampling rates, and employing filtering and decimation to reduce computing power and energy consumption, while maintaining data transmission quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the sampling rate is precisely matched on conventional radio chips, then data transmission quality is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing precision requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesampling rate matching precisionVSAvoidradio chip complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a decimation filter as an intermediary component between the A/D converter and the signal processing unit. This decimation filter performs resampling and filtering operations that compensate for imprecise sampling rates, thereby achieving accurate sampling rate matching without requiring the radio chip itself to be highly complex or precisely manufactured

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the need for precise mechanical/electrical sampling rate matching in the radio chip with a software-based decimation filter that performs digital resampling. This substitution allows for flexible sampling rate adjustment through software rather than requiring precise hardware configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If complex computing power is used for resampling, then sampling rate precision is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesampling rate precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs resampling and filtering operations in advance during the decimation process, rather than performing complex real-time computations during signal processing. This preliminary action reduces the computational burden during critical signal processing operations, thereby reducing energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the sampling rate parameter through decimation by a factor M, transforming a high sampling rate into a lower sampling rate that is more energy-efficient to process. This parameter change reduces the computational workload and associated energy consumption while maintaining signal integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the A/D converter is clocked by a clock generator, then the sampling rate can be adjusted, but the adjustment precision remains very limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesampling rate adjustabilityVSAvoidsampling rate precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic sampling rate adjustment through the decimation filter, which can adaptively change the decimation factor M based on signal conditions. This dynamic approach allows for precise sampling rate adjustment that is not limited by the fixed clock generator settings, enabling flexible adaptation to different transmission conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Use of energy by moving object

If data is transmitted in fragmented form, then energy consumption at the radio front end is minimized, but data transmission quality and reliability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiddata transmission quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the receiving device determines whether a received data packet is complete or partial, and requests retransmission of missing packets. This feedback ensures data integrity and transmission reliability while maintaining the energy efficiency benefits of fragmented transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3759822B1Radio receiver
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 DIEHL METERING SYSTEMS GMBH
  • EP3759822B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3759822B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3759822B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a radio receiver (10) of the SDR type for use in an environment which is self-sufficient in power, preferably self-sufficient in power in the long term, the radio receiver (10) comprising a receiver (1) by which data (2) in the form of at least one data packet or a part thereof or of a data stream having a specific data rate are received and provided for further data processing. In an operating mode A the data (2) are diverted at the receiver (1) and delivered to a microcontroller (3) at a preferably definable sampling rate, the microcontroller (3) decimates the data by selecting some data from the sampled amount, and the microcontroller (3) buffers the decimated data in a memory (4, 18) and provides them for further processing.