Low-Power Sound Wave Reception for Mobile Devices

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile device technologies face challenges in minimizing power consumption when receiving sound waves modulated with digital information, as continuous activation can lead to battery degradation and increased power usage.

Innovation Solution

A low-power sound wave reception method that uses a microphone, sound wave intensity measurer, and processor to compare detected sound waves with reference patterns, activating the processor only when a sound wave signal meets a threshold intensity and deactivating the corresponding pattern to prevent continuous activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If sound waves are continuously transmitted and the mobile device continuously activates to receive them, then the mobile device can receive digital information delivered through sound waves, but the mobile device cannot enter deactivation state leading to serious battery loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedigital information receptionVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic operation modes for the mobile device: a first operation mode (deactivated state) for normal power-saving operation, and a second operation mode (activated state) for receiving sound wave signals. The device dynamically transitions between these modes based on whether a matching sound wave is detected, allowing it to remain powered off most of the time while still being able to receive information when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a sound wave receiver and pattern matcher to detect and identify sound wave signals before full device activation. By preliminarily checking for matching sound wave patterns against stored reference patterns, the system can determine whether activation is necessary, preventing unnecessary wake-ups and battery consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the mobile device activates continuously to detect voice commands and sound waves, then voice activation function works reliably, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice activation reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic operation modes for the mobile device: a first operation mode (deactivated state) for normal power-saving operation, and a second operation mode (activated state) for receiving sound wave signals. The device dynamically transitions between these modes based on whether a matching sound wave is detected, allowing it to remain powered off most of the time while still being able to receive information when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a sound wave receiver and pattern matching mechanism as an intermediary layer between the external sound wave environment and the main processor. This intermediary continuously monitors for matching patterns in a low-power state and only triggers full processor activation when a match is found, ensuring reliable voice command detection while minimizing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach minimizes power consumption in mobile devices by preventing unnecessary activation and reducing battery drain from continuous sound wave reception.

Implementation Method 1

a microphone 201, a sound wave intensity measurer 202

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic detection: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS9953662B2Low-power sound wave reception method and mobile device using the same

Publication Date: 2018.04.24 MOTIV INTELLIGENCE INC

AI summary

A low-power sound wave reception method in a computer which includes a microphone, a memory which stores at least one reference pattern, and a computer processor is provided. The low-power sound wave reception method includes: when a sound wave signal having an intensity greater than or equal to a threshold value is detected by the microphone, comparing the sound wave signal and the at least one reference pattern stored in the memory; and when there is a reference pattern matching the sound wave signal, turning on the computer processor, and deactivating the reference pattern matching the sound wave signal (excluding the deactivated reference pattern from the comparing step).