Sensor Hub Delegation for Low-Power IoT Sensor Polling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IoT devices face challenges in reducing power consumption, particularly in peripheral devices with small batteries, as they rely heavily on microprocessors that consume significant power during operations like polling external sensors and transmitting data.
Innovation Solution
Delegating computationally non-intensive operations, such as sensor polling and data transmission, to a sensor hub that consumes less power than the microprocessor, allowing the microprocessor to enter a low-power state while the sensor hub performs these tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the microprocessor performs sensor polling and data transmission operations, then the device functionality is complete, but power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device into two distinct processing units: a microprocessor for high-level control and a sensor hub for specific sensor operations. This segmentation allows the microprocessor to enter low-power states while the sensor hub independently handles polling and data transmission, resolving the contradiction between complete functionality and reduced power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor hub acts as an intermediary between the sensors and the microprocessor. It performs sensor polling and data preparation, then transmits data to the microprocessor only when needed. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for the microprocessor to continuously poll sensors, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining full device functionality.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the microprocessor enters a low-power state, then power consumption is reduced, but the microprocessor cannot poll sensors or transmit data
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor hub serves as a capable intermediary that can independently perform sensor polling and data transmission operations. When the microprocessor enters low-power state, the sensor hub continues to monitor sensors and transmit data to connected devices, ensuring reliability is maintained without requiring the microprocessor to remain active.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor hub is designed to autonomously perform sensor polling and data management tasks without requiring microprocessor intervention. This self-service capability allows the microprocessor to enter low-power states while the sensor hub independently maintains sensor monitoring and data transmission, resolving the contradiction between power reduction and operational reliability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a sensor hub is introduced to handle sensor operations, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While segmentation into microprocessor and sensor hub does increase architectural complexity, it creates clear functional boundaries and responsibilities. The sensor hub handles all sensor-specific operations, while the microprocessor focuses on high-level control, making the system more modular and maintainable despite the additional component.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor hub is designed as a multi-functional component that can handle various sensor types, polling operations, data formatting, and transmission protocols. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into a single device, reducing the overall system complexity compared to having the microprocessor perform all these functions individually.
Data Source
AI summary
An IoT device includes a serial interface controller coupled to external sensors, a Bluetooth controller to transmit signals over a Bluetooth connection, a microprocessor, and a sensor hub that controls operations of the serial interface controller and the Bluetooth controller. The microprocessor is initialized to a normal power state and, in response to a first trigger, is placed in a low-power state during which some operations, including at least including polling the sensors for data, are delegated from the microprocessor to the sensor hub. In this way, the microprocessor can sleep or hibernate, thereby reducing power consumption. The microprocessor is returned to the normal power state in response to a second trigger, and responsibility for the delegated operations returns to the microprocessor. The delegated operations may also include storing the polled sensor data in memory and/or facilitating transmission of the sensor data to a host device over the Bluetooth connection.