Low-Power Wake-Up Detector Resolution Enhancement

Solution Overview

Problem

RF receiver devices in standby mode require enhanced signal strength detection resolution to reduce false wake-ups and conserve power, as existing low-power wake-up detectors have coarse threshold detection capabilities due to power consumption and design limitations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a high-resolution wake-up detector configuration that varies attenuator gain settings in conjunction with the low-power wake-up detector's threshold control, allowing for more precise signal threshold detection without additional power consumption, by mapping pre-determined signal threshold levels to specific attenuator gain and reference threshold levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the low-power wake-up detector uses coarse threshold levels to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but detection resolution deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddetection resolution

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection process is segmented into two stages: a first wake-up detector with coarse threshold levels for initial detection, and a second detector with fine threshold levels for precise measurement. This segmentation allows the system to use low power for initial detection while achieving high resolution when needed, resolving the contradiction between power consumption and detection resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between the first wake-up detector and the second detector based on signal conditions. The wake-up control unit activates the second detector only when the first detector indicates a potential wake-up event, allowing the detection resolution to be high when necessary while maintaining low power consumption during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the wake-up detector uses fine threshold levels to improve detection resolution, then detection resolution is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection resolutionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The detection process is segmented into two stages: a first wake-up detector with coarse threshold levels for initial detection, and a second detector with fine threshold levels for precise measurement. This segmentation allows the system to use low power for initial detection while achieving high resolution when needed, resolving the contradiction between power consumption and detection resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies fine threshold detection partially, only when the coarse detector indicates a potential wake-up event. This partial application of high-resolution detection avoids the continuous power consumption that would result from always using fine thresholds, while still achieving high detection resolution when necessary to reduce false wake-ups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the receiver remains in standby mode to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but false wake-ups increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidfalse wake-up rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detection process is segmented into two stages: a first wake-up detector with coarse threshold levels for initial detection, and a second detector with fine threshold levels for precise measurement. This segmentation allows the system to use low power for initial detection while achieving high resolution when needed, resolving the contradiction between power consumption and detection resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first wake-up detector performs preliminary detection using coarse thresholds before activating the second detector. This preliminary action filters out many false wake-up candidates, allowing the system to remain in standby mode longer while reducing the false wake-up rate through the subsequent precise measurement by the second detector.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10945206B2System and method for configurable low-power wake-up detection

Publication Date: 2021.03.09 NXP BV

AI summary

This specification discloses methods and devices to enable high resolution configuration of a low-power wake-up detector (LP Detector), which in turn is implemented allowing for very coarse threshold detection (i.e., the detectable threshold levels are widely spaced apart from each other) due to power consumption and design reasons. Based on this invention, the detection resolution can be enhanced from 10 mV steps to <1 mV steps. This makes the detection configuration more accurate, which allows for improved calibration, and reduces false wake-ups by smartly controlling hardware at no additional cost in power consumption. In some embodiments, the invention to enable high resolution configuration of a low-power wake-up detector (LP Detector) can be implemented by using a wake-up threshold control to control both a low-power wake-up detector (LP Detector) and an attenuator belonging to a receiver.