Sensor Data Acquisition Unit for CPU Load Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

High-performance CPUs in mobile terminals consume excessive power and experience performance degradation due to frequent communication with low-speed sensors for acquiring sensor data, leading to reduced battery life and increased load.

Innovation Solution

A data processing apparatus with a first processor acquiring sensor data and providing it along with cycle information to a second processor, allowing the second processor to manage and request sensor data at optimized sampling cycles, thereby reducing the load on the high-performance CPU and minimizing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the CPU acquires sensor data frequently through direct communication with sensors, then the sensor data can be obtained in real-time, but the CPU load increases and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time sensor data acquisitionVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a sensor data acquisition unit as an intermediary component between the CPU and sensors. This unit handles the frequent communication with sensors on behalf of the CPU, allowing the CPU to operate at lower frequencies and consume less power while still obtaining sensor data in real-time through the intermediary buffer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the CPU accesses sensors at low speed multiple times to acquire sensor data, then the CPU can maintain high performance for other tasks, but the time required to acquire sensor data increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCPU performance for image/audio/communication processingVSAvoidtime to acquire sensor data
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a buffer that pre-stores sensor data before the CPU needs it. The sensor data acquisition unit continuously acquires sensor data and stores it in the buffer in advance, so when the CPU needs sensor data, it can retrieve it immediately without waiting for slow sensor communication, thus losing minimal time while maintaining CPU productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If the CPU spends a long period acquiring sensor data, then all sensor data can be collected, but the overall performance of the mobile terminal deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of sensor data collectedVSAvoidoverall performance of mobile terminal
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous sensor data acquisition through a dedicated acquisition unit that operates independently and continuously fills the buffer. This allows the CPU to retrieve sensor data continuously without interruption to its main tasks, maintaining both the quantity of sensor data collected and the overall productivity of the mobile terminal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Reliability

If frequent interrupts are used for real-time processing, then real-time performance is maintained, but the CPU experiences heavy load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time processing capabilityVSAvoidCPU load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sensor data acquisition function from the main CPU operations by creating a separate sensor data acquisition unit. This segmentation allows real-time sensor data collection to occur independently without generating frequent interrupts to the main CPU, thus maintaining real-time processing capability while significantly reducing CPU load and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2926265B1Data processing device, data processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2020.07.29 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2926265B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2926265B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2926265B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a data processing apparatus including a first processor configured to acquire sensor data from at least one sensor, wherein the first processor provides the acquired sensor data and a cycle information to a second processor, and wherein the cycle information includes information indicating a sampling cycle corresponding to a timing at which the sensor data is acquired.