Synchronized Wireless Units for Low Power Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless electrical units face high energy consumption due to continuously active receivers, particularly in battery-powered devices, which reduces battery life and is a limitation in installations where wired power is not available.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a synchronization method where devices learn the timing of periodic synchronization signals and go to a 'sleep' state between signals, activating only before expected synchronization, allowing both transmitters and receivers to operate while minimizing power usage, and using arbitration methods to prevent communication collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the receiver is continuously on to receive incoming signals, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having receivers wake up at predetermined intervals to receive synchronization signals and data packets, then enter low-power sleep modes between these periodic activations. This allows the system to maintain communication reliability through regular check-ins while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous receiver operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization signal mechanism provides feedback to all wireless devices about system status and timing information. Devices use this feedback to coordinate their wake-up cycles and data transmission timing, ensuring reliable communication while minimizing the duration receivers must be active, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If receivers are implemented in battery-powered detectors, then two-way communication capability is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing scheduled wake-up cycles where receivers activate only at predetermined intervals to exchange synchronization signals and data, then enter low-power sleep modes. This periodic operation enables two-way communication capability while extending battery life compared to continuous receiver operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses preliminary synchronization signals that establish timing protocols before actual data communication occurs. This preliminary coordination allows devices to efficiently manage their receiver activation cycles, ensuring two-way communication capability is achieved while minimizing the total time receivers must be powered, thus extending battery life.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices operate asynchronously, then device independence is improved, but communication coordination deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through synchronization signals that provide timing and status information to all devices in the network. This feedback mechanism allows devices to operate independently with simple wake-up cycles while achieving coordinated communication through the shared synchronization protocol, resolving the contradiction between device independence and communication coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic synchronization signals to coordinate communication among independent devices. Each device independently monitors for these periodic signals and activates its receiver at the appropriate times, achieving communication coordination without requiring complex inter-device negotiation or centralized control, thus maintaining device independence while improving coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communications system incorporates a plurality of synchronized wireless units. Each unit minimizes energy requirements by entering a low current, inactive, state between synchronizing signals. The unit automatically enters an active state prior to receipt of the next synchronizing signal.