Adaptive Signal Converter Sampling for Wireless Power Variation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing signal converters in communications devices consume excessive power when configured for high-power wireless signals, even when receiving lower power signals, due to their fixed sampling range and resolution.

Innovation Solution

A signal converter with a variable sampling range that adapts based on interference metrics while maintaining a consistent or reduced sampling resolution, allowing for efficient power consumption by adjusting the bit-width of digital samples accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the signal converter is configured with a fixed sampling range for high-power signals, then it can handle high-power signals without losing information, but it consumes excessive power when processing lower power signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal processing capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The signal converter dynamically adjusts its sampling range based on the detected signal power level. When a low-power signal is detected, the converter reduces its sampling range from the maximum range configured for high-power signals to a smaller range appropriate for low-power signals. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain full signal processing capability when needed while reducing power consumption during normal operation with lower power signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the signal converter uses a fixed high sampling resolution, then it maintains processing accuracy for all signal levels, but it increases power consumption and processing overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesampling resolutionVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The signal converter applies different sampling resolutions locally appropriate to each signal power level. Instead of using a uniformly high sampling resolution for all signals, the system detects the signal power level and applies a sampling resolution matched to that specific condition. Low-power signals are processed with lower resolution while high-power signals receive higher resolution processing, optimizing both accuracy and power efficiency for each local operating condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Use of energy by moving object

If the signal converter adapts sampling range based on interference metrics, then it reduces power consumption for low-power signals, but it requires additional processing to determine signal characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The signal converter performs preliminary detection of signal power levels and interference metrics before committing to a specific sampling configuration. By measuring signal characteristics in advance and determining the appropriate sampling range and resolution in advance, the system avoids the need for continuous high-resolution processing and can transition to lower power modes when conditions permit, reducing overall power consumption despite the initial detection overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4302405B1System and method for sampling signals
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 VIASAT INC
  • EP4302405B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4302405B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4302405B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A first analog signal may be sampled during a first time period in accordance with a first sampling range and a sampling resolution step size, where a first digital sequence may be outputted during the first time period based on sampling the first analog signal.