Staged Wireless Device Wake-Up for Power and Latency Trade-Off

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication devices face power consumption issues due to continuous monitoring for communication signals, leading to reduced battery life, as they often transmit periodic messages unnecessarily and may miss or delay receiving directed signals during duty-cycled operations.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that transition from a low-power mode to an active power mode upon detecting radio-frequency activity, using a wake-up receiver to identify RF signals and demodulate them, allowing the device to consume more power for communication and reduce latency while conserving energy when no nearby devices are detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wireless device continuously monitors for communication signals and transmits periodic messages, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring and transmission functions are segmented into different operational modes: a low-power mode where minimal monitoring occurs and a high-power mode where full monitoring and transmission occur. The device segments time into intervals where it alternates between these modes based on detected RF activity, thus achieving reliable communication only when necessary while conserving power during idle periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs periodic duty-cycling where it alternates between active monitoring periods and sleep periods. During sleep periods, power consumption is minimized. When RF activity is detected during active periods, the device transitions to full communication mode. This periodic action ensures that the device maintains communication capability while reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the wireless device duty-cycles operations to reduce power consumption, then power consumption decreases, but latency increases and directed signals may be missed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs preliminary detection of RF activity during low-power mode using a simplified receiver before transitioning to full communication mode. This preliminary action allows the device to wake up in advance of actual communication needs, ensuring that directed signals are not missed while still spending most time in low-power state, thus reducing latency compared to traditional duty-cycling without compromising power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the wireless device transmits periodic beacons when no nearby devices are present, then communication protocol compliance is maintained, but unnecessary power is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol complianceVSAvoidunnecessary power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The device dynamically adjusts its transmission behavior based on detected RF activity. When RF activity indicating nearby devices is detected, the device transitions to active mode and transmits periodic beacons to maintain protocol compliance. When no RF activity is detected, the device remains in low-power mode and suspends beacon transmission. This dynamic adaptation allows the device to maintain protocol compliance only when necessary, eliminating unnecessary power consumption during idle periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 reduces power consumption by only activating full power modes when necessary, extending battery life and ensuring timely communication while minimizing unnecessary power usage.

Implementation Method 1

a wake-up receiver to detect energy in radio-frequency (RF) signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation detection: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

demodulating, by a transceiver, a second transmission of the first RF signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSignal demodulation:

Data Source

PatentUS11178616B2Staged wireless device wake-up

Publication Date: 2021.11.16 ATMOSIC TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

This disclosure provides a method and apparatus for a staged wake-up of a wireless device. The wireless device may include a wireless wake-up receiver and a communication transceiver. The wireless device may begin operations in a low-power mode. The wireless wake-up receiver may identify radio-frequency (RF) activity and transition operation of the wireless device from the low-power mode to an active power mode when RF activity is identified. In some implementations, RF activity is identified when an energy pattern of a received RF signal is matched to an energy pattern associated with a known communication protocol.