UWB Anchor ON/OFF Control After Consecutive Ranging Failures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ultra-wideband (UWB) anchors in smart key/digital key systems experience unnecessary power consumption and degradation of ranging performance due to continuous failure in ranging operations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a UWB ON/OFF operation method that ends a ranging session based on a preset UWB ON/OFF cycle, allowing the UWB anchor to re-enter a UWB signal-reception standby mode at a predetermined timing after consecutive ranging failures, thereby reducing power consumption and maintaining ranging performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UWB anchor keeps the reception window open continuously to maintain ranging capability, then the ranging performance is maintained, but the power consumption increases unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveranging performanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The UWB anchor operates in periodic ON/OFF cycles, switching between reception standby mode and non-standby mode. The anchor enters non-standby mode after a predetermined number of consecutive ranging failures, reducing power consumption while periodically returning to standby mode to maintain ranging capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the UWB anchor enters non-standby mode after consecutive ranging failures to reduce power consumption, then the power consumption is reduced, but the ranging performance may be degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidranging performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by monitoring the number of consecutive ranging failures and using this information to control the transition between ON and OFF states. When the failure count reaches a threshold, the anchor switches to non-standby mode, and when successes occur, it returns to standby mode, creating a feedback-based adaptive power management system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Use of energy by moving object

If the UWB anchor switches to non-standby mode to minimize power consumption, then the power consumption is minimized, but the time to restore ranging capability increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts its operational state based on real-time ranging performance. The transition between ON and OFF modes is not fixed but adapts to the actual ranging conditions, allowing the anchor to optimize the balance between power consumption and recovery time based on environmental factors and ranging requirements.

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

The method effectively minimizes unnecessary power consumption and prevents degradation of ranging performance by setting a threshold for consecutive ranging failures and restarting the ranging process at a predetermined timing.

Implementation Method 1

a transceiver configured to transmit/receive a UWB signal to and from a UWB tag for performing ranging

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltra-wideband signal transmission:

Implementation Method 2

time-of-flight (ToF) is a method of calculating a physical distance between communication subjects by multiplying time a signal arrives between the communication subjects by a speed of light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime-of-flight measurement: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS12317187B2UWB ON/OFF operation method to minimize degradation of ranging performance and UWB anchor using the same

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 HYUNDAI MOBIS CO LTD

AI summary

An ultra-wideband (UWB) anchor using an UWB ON/OFF operation method to minimize degradation of ranging performance. The UWB anchor includes: a power supply to supply power to the UWB anchor; a transceiver to transmit/receive a UWB signal to and from a UWB tag for performing ranging; and a controller to end a ranging session when a cumulative sum of ranging failures for a specific time unit reaches a maximum number of failed ranging round attempts, and to control the power supply and the transceiver to re-enter a UWB signal-reception standby (or UWB ON) mode when a condition is satisfied.