Low-Power Wake-Up Receiver for Multi-RCM Battery Life

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery-powered devices with multiple radio communications modules (RCMs) face significant power consumption challenges, particularly in wireless connectivity, which hinders extended battery life and requires inefficient recharging processes.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a single low-power wake-up receiver that can activate any of the RCMs in a device, using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with modifications, and determining which RCM to wake based on power consumption, latency, Quality of Service (QoS), range, and historical usage criteria, to minimize power usage and simplify the wake-up process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple radio communications modules (RCMs) are kept active to maintain wireless connectivity, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless connectivity reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the radio communication functionality by separating the always-on wake-up receiver from the main RCMs. The wake-up receiver is a simplified, low-power segment that handles only wake-up signals, while the main RCMs are segmented into sleep and active states, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining connectivity reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wake-up receiver performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring for wake-up signals before the main RCMs need to activate. This preliminary detection allows the system to transition RCMs from sleep to active state only when necessary, avoiding unnecessary power consumption while ensuring reliable response to communication requests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a separate wake-up receiver is allocated for each RCM, then wake-up reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewake-up reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of wake-up receivers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal wake-up receiver that serves multiple RCMs simultaneously. This single wake-up receiver is designed with multi-functionality to detect wake-up signals intended for any of the plurality of RCMs, eliminating the need for separate wake-up receivers for each RCM and thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining wake-up reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the wake-up reception function into a single shared receiver that handles wake-up signals for multiple RCMs. By combining what would otherwise be separate wake-up reception capabilities into one universal receiver, the system reduces the total number of components and simplifies the overall device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Duration of action of moving object

If RCMs are placed in inactive mode to reduce power consumption, then battery life is extended, but wake-up response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidwake-up response time

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The wake-up receiver performs preliminary monitoring of incoming signals while RCMs remain in inactive sleep mode. When a wake-up signal is detected, the system can quickly activate the appropriate RCM, minimizing the actual wake-up response time while allowing the RCMs to spend most time in low-power state, thereby extending battery life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The wake-up receiver acts as an intermediary between the external environment and the sleeping RCMs. It continuously monitors for wake-up signals and triggers RCM activation only when necessary, bridging the gap between power-saving sleep mode and rapid response requirements without requiring RCMs to remain fully active.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach reduces power consumption by allowing a single active low-power wake-up receiver to manage multiple RCMs, extending battery life and reducing recharging needs while maintaining efficient data transmission capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with modifications

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOrthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM):

Data Source

PatentEP3482587B1System and method for waking up a radio communications module of a device

Publication Date: 2023.01.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

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AI summary

A method for method for waking up one of a plurality of radio communications modules (RCMs) of a first station includes receiving a wake-up configuration from a second station, placing the plurality of RCMs into a sleeping mode, receiving a wake-up signal from the second station on an auxiliary low-power radio receiver of the first station, determining a first RCM of the plurality of RCMs to wake up in accordance with the wake-up configuration, and waking up the first RCM from the sleeping mode to communicate with the second station.