UWB Ranging With BLE Wake-Up for Lower Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices using ultra-wide band (UWB) communication for ranging consume excessive power when waiting to identify if another device is within range, especially when out of range.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an initial connection message (ICM) using an out-of-band communication method, such as Bluetooth, to reduce the active time of the UWB module, and adjusting the transmission interval of ICM based on device movement to minimize power waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electronic device continuously wakes up to wait for UWB communication to identify devices within range, then the ranging functionality is maintained, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to perform initial device discovery and connection establishment before activating the UWB module. The electronic device sends initial connection messages via BLE when another device enters the Bluetooth range, allowing the UWB module to remain inactive until actually needed for ranging, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining ranging functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by activating the UWB module only at specific intervals when initial connection messages are transmitted via Bluetooth, rather than continuously monitoring for UWB devices. This periodic activation based on Bluetooth-triggered events significantly reduces the active time of the power-consuming UWB module while ensuring ranging capability when devices are in proximity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the UWB module remains inactive to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the device cannot identify when another device enters the UWB range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) as an intermediary communication channel to bridge the gap between power saving and timely device detection. BLE serves as a low-power wake-up mechanism that detects when another device enters proximity and triggers the UWB module activation, eliminating the need for continuous UWB monitoring while ensuring timely detection of devices within range.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary device detection and connection establishment using Bluetooth before activating the UWB module. This preliminary action via BLE ensures that when the UWB module is activated, another device is already known to be in proximity, reducing the detection time while keeping the UWB module inactive most of the time to save power.
3Speed
If the initial connection message transmission interval is short, then device detection responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the initial connection message transmission interval adjustable based on device movement state. When movement is detected via sensors, the transmission interval is shortened to improve detection responsiveness. When no movement is detected, the interval is extended to reduce power consumption. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the balance between responsiveness and power consumption according to actual usage conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission interval parameter of initial connection messages based on detected device movement. The processor adjusts this parameter dynamically - reducing the interval when movement is detected to improve responsiveness, and increasing the interval when stationary to save power. This parameter change strategy allows the system to adapt to different operational scenarios and optimize the trade-off between speed and energy consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an electronic device for performing ranging using a ultra-wide band (UWB) communication method and an operation method of the electronic device. An operation method of a first electronic device includes transmitting a connection start message related to a second communication method to a second electronic device by using a first communication method, transmitting an initial connection message by using the second communication method, receiving a ranging start message from the second electronic device, and performing ranging with respect to the second electronic device by using the second communication method.