Sensor Cluster Sleep Mode for Low-Power Context Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-operated portable communication devices face challenges in managing energy consumption and resource allocation due to the integration of sensors, which expend unnecessary energy, especially when transitioning between standby and operational modes.
Innovation Solution
A sleep mode is introduced within the standby mode for sensor-enhanced communication devices, where sensors are periodically energized to capture context information, and data is transferred between memory types to reduce energy usage and maintain sensor sensitivity, allowing incremental learning without continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are continuously operated to capture context information, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sensor operation by introducing a sleep mode where sensors are periodically energized to capture context information and then placed back into low-power state. This periodic activation allows the device to maintain measurement capabilities while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by capturing and storing context information in memory before the device fully wakes from standby mode. This allows sensors to be activated briefly to gather necessary data, store it preliminarily, and then return to sleep mode, avoiding the need for continuous sensing throughout the entire standby period.
2Measurement precision
If sensor sampling rate is increased to maintain information quality, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces sampling energy consumption by implementing periodic sampling at reduced rates during standby mode. Sensors are activated at lower sampling frequencies when the device is in sleep mode, capturing essential context information only periodically rather than continuously, thereby maintaining information quality while dramatically reducing the energy required for sampling operations.
3Productivity
If device transitions quickly from standby to operational mode, then productivity is improved, but energy consumption increases due to re-acquisition of environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by capturing context information during brief sensor activations in sleep mode and storing it in memory before the device needs to fully operationalize. When transitioning from standby to operational mode, the device can retrieve this pre-captured environmental information from memory, avoiding the need to re-acquire conditions and enabling faster mode transitions with reduced energy expenditure.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor enhanced communication device (200) is provided with a wake mode, a standby mode and sleep mode. The sleep mode is a periodic occurrence within the standby mode which places a cluster of sensors and transducers (202) into a state of arousal in which the sensitivity of the transducers and sensors is increased while the sampling rate is decreased. Incremental learning can occur during the sleep mode as well as basic memory transfers. Since the cluster does not have to re-acquire information upon entering wake mode, the overall power efficiency is improved.