Self-Powered Device Power Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current self-powered devices, such as those using solar power, waste significant energy when communicating with other networked computing devices, leading to high power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a self-powered system with a programmable mechanism that alternates between low and high power modes based on a power budget, using duty-cycle power management, and synchronizing with computing devices through protocols like Network Time Protocol or Wi-Fi periodic beacon signals to optimize energy usage during communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If self-powered devices communicate continuously with networked computing devices, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic communication cycles where the self-powered device alternates between active communication modes and low-power sleep modes. The device wakes at scheduled intervals to exchange data with networked computing devices, then returns to sleep mode. This periodic action maintains communication reliability by ensuring regular data exchange while dramatically reducing average power consumption compared to continuous communication.
2Productivity
If self-powered devices operate in high power mode, then communication speed and data transfer rate are improved, but operational duration decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power mode switching that adapts the device's operational state based on real-time conditions. The system transitions between high-power active modes during communication events and low-power sleep modes during idle periods. This dynamic adaptation allows the device to maximize communication speed when needed while extending operational duration through extended low-power states, resolving the contradiction between productivity and duration.
Data Source
AI summary
The self-powered device is configured to be powered by energy collected from a surrounding environment. The self-powered device includes an energy collector, and a memory having instructions for selecting one of a plurality of modes of operation. The energy collector is configured to collect energy to power the self-powered device from a surrounding environment in which the self-powered device is located. The plurality of modes of operation include: (i) a low-power mode of operation in which the self-powered device consumes less than a pre-determined or adaptively-determined amount of power and the self-powered device uses less than its full capabilities, and (ii) and a high-power mode of operation in which self-powered device consumes more than the pre-determined or adaptively-determined amount of power and the self-powered device uses its full capabilities. The instructions for selecting one of a plurality of modes of are configured to (a) select the low-power mode of operation when available energy becomes insufficient to fully power the self-powered device, and (b) select the high-power mode of operation when sufficient energy again becomes available to fully power the self-powered device.