Sensing Unit Power Management via Dynamic Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high power consumption of electronic apparatuses due to the presence of multiple sensing units in an ON state, which are not efficiently managed in prior art.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a processing module that includes sensing units with different power consumption grades, where only those with higher power consumption are activated when specific conditions are met, reducing unnecessary power usage by controlling N1 sensing units among N sensing units to be in the ON state only when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sensing units are kept in ON state to ensure all functions are available, then the responsiveness and functionality of the electronic apparatus is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning sensing units between ON and OFF states based on operational conditions. The processing module dynamically activates high-power sensing units only when needed, rather than keeping them statically ON, thus adapting power consumption to actual functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic activation of high-power sensing units through a control module that determines when to switch from low-power mode to high-power mode based on detected conditions, creating a periodic on-demand activation pattern rather than continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If high-power sensing units are activated continuously to ensure accurate detection, then the measurement precision is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using low-power sensing units to perform preliminary detection before activating high-power sensing units. This preliminary screening allows the system to maintain detection capability while avoiding continuous high-power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements partial action by activating only the necessary subset of sensing units (N1 out of N total high-power units) based on current operational needs, rather than activating all high-power units continuously, thus achieving sufficient detection precision with reduced power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If N sensing units are activated to provide comprehensive sensing coverage, then the adaptability of the electronic apparatus is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensing coverageVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments sensing units into distinct groups: M low-power sensing units and N high-power sensing units. This segmentation allows independent control of each group, enabling the system to activate only the necessary high-power units while maintaining continuous operation of low-power units, thus providing comprehensive sensing coverage with optimized power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by assigning different power consumption characteristics to different sensing units based on their functional requirements. Low-power units handle continuous monitoring while high-power units provide enhanced sensing capability only when and where needed, creating localized high-performance sensing zones rather than uniform high-power operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9946320B2Information processing method and electronic apparatus
Publication Date: 2018.04.17 LENOVO (BEIJING) LTD
  • US9946320B2 patent drawing
  • US9946320B2 patent drawing
  • US9946320B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An information processing method and an electronic apparatus are described to reduce the power consumption of electronic apparatus. The method is applied to an electronic apparatus that includes a processing module with at least two sensing units corresponding to at least two power consumption grades. The method includes, when the N sensing units among the at least two sensing units are in an OFF state and the M sensing units among the at least two sensing units are in an ON state, obtaining a first parameter through at least one sensing unit among the M sensing units; determining whether the first parameter satisfies a first predetermined condition; if so, controlling N1 sensing units among the N sensing units to be in the ON state, wherein N1 is a positive integer less than or equal to N.