Wake-Up Signal Pattern Detection for Low-Power Wireless Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional standby circuits in wireless communication devices struggle to accurately detect wake-up signals in noisy field environments due to the reduced signal level relative to noise levels, leading to inefficiencies in power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A communication system and method that utilize a specific pattern, such as an on-off modulated signal or a long pulse, in the wake-up signal, which is cyclically transmitted and detected by a standby circuit to ensure accurate detection even in high noise environments, allowing for intermittent operation and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a conventional standby circuit is used to detect wake-up signals, then power consumption is reduced by avoiding always-on reception circuit operation, but detection accuracy deteriorates in noisy field environments where wake-up signal levels are not sufficiently higher than noise levels
Solution Approach 1:
The reception function is segmented into two separate circuits: a simple standby circuit for initial wake-up signal detection and a full reception circuit for subsequent data reception. The standby circuit continuously monitors for wake-up signals with low power consumption, while the reception circuit remains inactive until triggered, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous detection capability and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic operation where the standby circuit continuously detects wake-up signals while the reception circuit operates only periodically when needed. This periodic activation of the full reception circuit allows accurate signal processing only when necessary, maintaining detection accuracy while minimizing power consumption during idle periods.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the wake-up signal level is reduced to achieve lower power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but the signal becomes more difficult to distinguish from noise
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function is divided between two circuits with different capabilities: the standby circuit uses simple threshold detection for low-power operation, while the reception circuit provides full signal processing capability when activated. This segmentation allows the system to use lower signal levels for wake-up detection while maintaining the ability to distinguish signals from noise when the full reception circuit is engaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The standby circuit acts as an intermediary that filters and pre-processes incoming signals before activating the full reception circuit. It monitors the RF input continuously at low power and only triggers the power-hungry reception circuit when a potential wake-up signal is detected, thus enabling low signal level operation while maintaining detectability through the intermediary filtering function.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A communication system (10) including a transmission device (20) and a reception device (30) which wirelessly communicate with each other. The transmission device (20) includes a transmission circuit (21) that performs: cyclical transmission of a wake-up signal including a specific pattern; and transmission of data. The reception device (30) includes: a standby circuit (33) that receives a signal, and outputs a detection signal indicating reception of the wake-up signal when detecting that the specific pattern is cyclically included in the signal received; and a reception circuit (32) that receives the data from the transmission device (20) after the detection signal is output from the standby circuit (33).