Smart Transceiver Low-Power Mode Network Functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles, devices such as microcontrollers remain in a powered-on state even when inactive, leading to excessive energy consumption and reduced operational efficiency, particularly in electric vehicles where power generation options are limited.
Innovation Solution
A smart transceiver is used to perform network functions on behalf of devices like microcontrollers, allowing them to enter a low-power mode while maintaining network presence through periodic node alive messages and buffered communications, waking the device only when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices such as microcontrollers are maintained in a powered-on state to monitor communications and provide network functions, then network responsiveness and communication capability are improved, but energy consumption increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two functional segments: a smart transceiver that remains active to handle network communications, and a microcontroller that can enter low-power mode. This segmentation allows network functions to be maintained while reducing the power consumption of the microcontroller, resolving the contradiction between network responsiveness and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart transceiver acts as an intermediary between the network and the microcontroller. It monitors communications, buffers messages, and selectively wakes the microcontroller only when relevant communications are received, thereby maintaining network responsiveness while enabling the microcontroller to conserve energy during idle periods.
2Reliability
If devices remain powered-on to ensure network presence and meet communication protocols, then network protocol compliance is improved, but operational efficiency and range are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The smart transceiver performs preliminary actions by pre-monitoring network communications and pre-buffering messages before the microcontroller needs to be active. This allows the microcontroller to remain in low-power mode longer while ensuring that all necessary communications are captured and ready for processing upon wake-up, thereby maintaining protocol compliance while improving operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart transceiver provides self-service by autonomously handling network protocol requirements, including sending node alive messages, monitoring communications, and determining when to wake the microcontroller. This self-service capability ensures network protocol compliance without requiring the microcontroller to remain continuously powered-on, thus improving operational efficiency.
3Reliability
If all devices are kept in a powered-on state to monitor and respond to network communications, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by having the microcontroller alternate between active and low-power states based on communication needs. The smart transceiver maintains continuous network monitoring and periodically wakes the microcontroller only when necessary to respond to communications, thereby maintaining communication reliability while reducing energy waste compared to continuous operation.
Data Source
AI summary
System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to conserving energy in a device attached to a transceiver. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to the device entering a low power mode, monitoring communications received in the transceiver on behalf of the device to determine when to wake the device out of the low-power mode according to at least a wake condition. The method includes performing, by the transceiver, at least one network function on behalf of the device when the device is in the low-power mode.