Variable Filter Receiver Power Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fixed wireless receiver designs consume unnecessary power due to being configured for worst-case operating conditions, which rarely occur, while dynamic designs face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption based on varying signal quality and interference.
Innovation Solution
A wireless receiver with a variable filter, power measurement element, and controller that adjusts filter parameters to maintain a desired power ratio between blocking and desired signals, minimizing power consumption while ensuring performance by dynamically controlling out-of-band attenuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the receiver is designed with fixed parameters to accommodate worst-case operating conditions, then the performance requirements are met for all operating conditions, but the receiver wastes power when the operating condition is better than the worst case
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the receiver parameters adjustable rather than fixed. The filter bandwidth, gain, and other parameters are dynamically modified based on the detected operating conditions. When interference is detected, parameters are adjusted to meet performance requirements; when interference is absent, parameters are relaxed to reduce power consumption, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable performance and minimizing power usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent directly implements parameter changes by modifying filter bandwidth, gain, and other receiver parameters based on detected signal conditions. The system monitors the operating environment and adjusts parameters accordingly - using narrower bandwidth and higher gain when interference is present, and wider bandwidth and lower gain when conditions are good, thereby optimizing the balance between performance and power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the receiver dynamically adjusts parameters to reduce power consumption, then power waste is reduced under good conditions, but the receiver may fail to meet performance requirements under varying interference conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the received signal for interference conditions and using this information to adjust receiver parameters. The system detects the presence of out-of-band blocking signals and feeds this information back to the parameter control mechanism, which then modifies filter bandwidth and gain accordingly. This closed-loop approach ensures performance requirements are met while minimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively adjusting receiver parameters in response to detected interference conditions before performance degradation occurs. The system monitors for blocking signals and preemptively modifies filter and amplifier parameters to maintain performance, rather than waiting for performance failure and then correcting it.
3Reliability
If the filter bandwidth is reduced to improve selectivity and reject blocking signals, then the receiver performance under interference is improved, but the power consumption increases due to higher gain requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by dynamically adjusting both filter bandwidth and amplifier gain based on detected interference conditions. When blocking signals are present, the system narrows the filter bandwidth to improve selectivity while simultaneously adjusting amplifier gain to compensate for the reduced bandwidth, thereby maintaining overall signal throughput while rejecting interference. When interference is absent, both bandwidth and gain are optimized for minimum power consumption.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method and apparatus for controlling the power consumption of a receiver based on current operating conditions is described herein. A receiver according to the present invention applies a received signal to a variable filter. The received signal includes a desired in-band signal. Depending on the current operating conditions, the received signal may further include one or more unwanted out-of-band blocking signals. A filter controller controls one or more operating parameters of the variable filter to maintain the power ratio at the filter output of the power of the blocking signal(s) to the in-band signal at or below a desired level. In so doing, the present invention controls the receiver power consumption while still providing the desired receiver performance.