Smart Labels With Multi-Radio Battery Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless devices with single radios face limitations in power management, as batteries are often discharged below the level required for high-power radios, leaving substantial remaining capacity unused for low-power radios.
Innovation Solution
Smart labels equipped with multiple wireless radios and a configurable battery system that can power both high and low-power radios, utilizing multiple battery cells and a power controller to manage power distribution, allowing the use of low-power radios when high-power radios can no longer operate, and forming mesh networks to conserve total power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a single high-power wireless radio is used in a smart label, then the communication range and data transmission capability are improved, but the battery capacity is depleted quickly and cannot support operation when discharged below the required level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery into multiple battery cells that can be independently connected or disconnected. This allows the system to use only the necessary number of cells based on the current radio's power requirements, preserving remaining battery capacity for future use when the current battery depletes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration of battery cell connections and radio selections based on real-time battery status. When the battery is discharged below the level required for a high-power radio, the system dynamically switches to a low-power radio and reconfigures the battery connection to maintain operation, thereby extending the overall operational duration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wireless radios with different power requirements are used, then the operational flexibility and extended functionality are improved, but the device complexity and power management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal battery system with multiple cells that can serve multiple radios with different power requirements. The same battery infrastructure supports both high-power and low-power radios through configurable connections, eliminating the need for separate power management systems for each radio type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor battery status and automatically select the appropriate radio and battery configuration. This closed-loop control simplifies power management by removing the need for manual intervention, as the system autonomously adapts to changing battery conditions and selects the optimal radio for current operation.
3Power
If the battery is discharged to power a high-power radio, then the immediate communication capability is maintained, but substantial remaining capacity is left unused and unavailable for future operation
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the battery into multiple independently controllable cells, the system can discharge only the necessary number of cells to power the current radio operation. This prevents over-discharge and preserves remaining capacity in other cells for future use, eliminating the waste of unused battery capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system strategically discards (discharges) only the necessary battery cells needed for current high-power radio operation, while preserving and recovering the capacity of remaining cells for future use. When the current battery depletes, the preserved capacity in remaining cells or reconfigured connections continues to support operation through low-power radios.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are smart labels, each comprising multiple wireless radios, and methods of operating such labels. For example, a smart label comprises a battery and two wireless radios having different power requirements. When the battery is no longer able to support a high-power radio (e.g., NB-IoT), the battery can still power a low-power (e.g., BLE). A battery can be specially configured and/or controlled to support the multi-radio operation of the smart label. For example, a battery can include multiple battery cells with configurable connections among these cells and radios. Furthermore, some battery components can be shared by wireless radios. The battery can also power other components of the smart label, such as sensors (e.g., temperature, acceleration, pressure, package integrity, global positioning), memory, and input/output components. In some examples, multiple smart labels form a mesh network, designed to lower the total power consumption by the radios of these labels.