Variable Dynamic Range Wireless Receiver for Low-Power Listening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication devices face high power consumption in listening modes due to wide dynamic ranges, particularly in technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Zigbee, where receivers spend significant time monitoring for incoming transmissions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a variable dynamic range (VDR) in receivers that adjusts amplitude ranges based on operational modes, reducing power consumption during listening by operating at a lower VDR and switching to full VDR for data frame processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the receiver operates with a wide dynamic range during listening mode to detect preambles, then the receiver sensitivity is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver dynamically adjusts its dynamic range based on operational mode. During listening mode, it operates with a reduced dynamic range to save power, and switches to full dynamic range when data reception is detected. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dynamic range parameter of the receiver according to operational requirements. By adjusting this key parameter between reduced and full ranges, the system optimizes both power consumption and sensitivity for different operational phases, directly addressing the technical contradiction.
2Reliability
If the receiver operates at full power level to ensure reliable data reception, then the reliability is improved, but the energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver employs periodic operation patterns, alternating between low-power listening mode and full-power receiving mode. This periodic switching ensures reliable data reception when needed while minimizing energy consumption during idle listening periods, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
During listening mode, the receiver uses only the necessary portion of its full capability (reduced dynamic range) rather than operating at full capacity. This partial action approach maintains sufficient functionality for detecting preambles while significantly reducing power consumption, addressing the energy efficiency concern without compromising reliability when full power is activated.
Data Source
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AI summary
The systems and methods for conserving energy by managing variable dynamic range of a receiver device are presented. The system can include a receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions at any of a plurality of amplitude ranges. The receiver can include a processor to operate, for a listening mode of the receiver, at a reduced amplitude range of the plurality of amplitude ranges for which to listen for a preamble of a data frame of a wireless transmission. The reduced amplitude range can have a reduced power level below a threshold. The processor can receive, while operating at the reduced amplitude range, the preamble of the data frame. The processor can switch, for a receiving mode, responsive to receiving the preamble, to an increased amplitude range to receive the data frame, the increased amplitude range operating at an increased linearity or power level above the threshold.