Standby Tuner for CATV Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing CATV systems face challenges in reducing power consumption, particularly in sleep mode, as the CPU needs to remain powered on to receive downstream data for switch circuit control, limiting energy efficiency and flexibility in power management.
Innovation Solution
A receiving apparatus with a power-supply controlling mechanism that uses a secondary receiving means to receive operation signals on a different frequency, allowing for arbitrary power state switching without affecting regular broadcasting, enabling efficient power management by delivering power only when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the CPU remains powered on to receive downstream data for switch circuit control, then the system can receive broadcast signals, but power consumption cannot be reduced sufficiently during sleep mode
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving apparatus is divided into two independent receiving means: a first receiving means for broadcast carrier frequency signals and a second receiving means for operation signals on different frequencies. This segmentation allows selective power supply to each module, enabling the first receiving means to be powered down while the second remains active to receive wake-up commands.
Solution Approach 2:
The second receiving means is designed to autonomously receive operation signals and generate power supply control signals without requiring the CPU to remain active. This self-service capability allows the system to wake up from sleep mode automatically when receiving operation signals, eliminating the need for continuous CPU operation.
2Ease of operation
If downstream data for switch circuit control is transmitted from the head end, then the switch circuit can be controlled, but the data cannot be transmitted at arbitrary times
Solution Approach 1:
The second receiving means acts as an intermediary that receives operation signals from the head end and translates them into power supply control signals. This intermediary function enables arbitrary-time wake-up commands to be received and processed without requiring the main CPU or first receiving means to be active, providing both control capability and scheduling flexibility.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the power supply to the first receiving means is stopped to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but the system cannot receive broadcast signals
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply state of the first receiving means is made dynamic rather than static. It can switch between powered-on and powered-off states based on operational requirements. The second receiving means continuously monitors for operation signals and dynamically activates the first receiving means when wake-up commands are received, optimizing power consumption while maintaining reception capability.
Data Source
AI summary
During sleep mode, a power-source control section stops the power supply to a tuner, a demodulation section, an AV-data processing section and a microcomputer, and delivers a power supply only to a standby tuner. The standby tuner receives a start signal which is transmitted from a head end, using a frequency except a specific frequency which is received by the tuner, and outputs a power-supply instruction signal according to the start signal. The power-source control section executes a power supply to the tuner, the demodulation section, the AV-data processing section and the microcomputer, in response to the power-supply instruction signal.