Wireless Switch Unit Power Reduction via Signal Rearrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless communication apparatuses face challenges in reducing power consumption while maintaining failure resistance and providing minimum necessary communication during system failures, especially in satellite communication systems where maintenance is difficult and power supply is limited.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes A/D and D/A conversion units, demultiplexing and multiplexing units, prestage and poststage rearrangement units, and a switch unit, allowing flexible frequency band management and power reduction without constraining frequency band selection, thereby ensuring failure resistance and minimal communication functionality during failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the wireless communication apparatus processes all frequency bands continuously, then communication service coverage is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidfailure resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency band processing function is segmented into multiple independent processing units, each capable of handling specific frequency bands. This allows selective activation of only necessary processing units, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining communication service for active bands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus dynamically adjusts the operational state of frequency band processing units based on real-time communication demands. When a frequency band is not in use, its processing unit can be put into a low-power or standby state, while actively used bands continue full processing, achieving adaptive power management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If the wireless communication apparatus reduces power consumption by stopping unused frequency band processing, then power efficiency improves, but communication flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidfrequency band selection flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus pre-configures multiple processing units to handle different frequency bands, allowing rapid switching between bands without requiring system reconfiguration. This preliminary setup enables quick adaptation to changing communication demands while maintaining power efficiency by activating only necessary units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The processing units are designed with universal functionality to handle multiple frequency bands. Each unit can be dynamically assigned to different bands based on demand, providing flexibility in frequency band selection while maintaining a reduced power consumption state for units not currently in use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the wireless communication apparatus is designed for high reliability with redundant components, then failure resistance improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure resistanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into independent frequency band processing units, each capable of operating autonomously. This modular architecture provides functional redundancy at the unit level, where failure of one unit does not affect others, achieving reliability without requiring complex cross-unit redundancy mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Redundancy is implemented locally within each frequency band processing unit rather than system-wide. Each unit contains its own error correction and fault tolerance mechanisms, providing reliable operation for that specific band while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through localized rather than global redundancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2988432B1Wireless communication device, and wireless communication control method
Publication Date: 2020.07.01 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP2988432B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2988432B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2988432B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to efficiently reduce power consumption of a switch unit having a large circuit size. A wireless communication apparatus of the present invention includes a demultiplexing unit that separates a multiplexed signal that has been input into a plurality of signals for each input port, a prestage rearrangement unit that rearranges the plurality of signals input from the demultiplexing unit and outputs a plurality of prestage rearranged signals for each input port, the switch unit that is provided for the input ports and inputs the plurality of the prestage rearranged signals output from the prestage rearrangement unit provided for each input port as a plurality of signals before switching and applies switching processes to the plurality of signals before the switching to be output as a plurality of switched signals for each output port, a poststage rearrangement unit that inputs and rearranges the plurality of switched signals output from the switch unit for each output port and outputs a plurality of poststage rearranged signals for each output port, and a multiplexing unit that multiplexes the plurality of poststage rearranged signals for each output port.