Wireless Earphone Synchronization Using BLE Packet Intervals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Bluetooth standards lack mechanisms for reliable audio reproduction synchronization between left and right earphones in true wireless stereo (TWS) devices, particularly with the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard, where time information is not included in packets.
Innovation Solution
A synchronization device and method that synchronizes time-series data between a master and slave using wireless communication by transmitting packets at a predetermined interval, adjusting the frequency of a reference clock signal based on packet intervals, and synchronizing time-series data using counters and frequency adjustment units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard is used for wireless communication, then power consumption is reduced, but time information is not included in packets making synchronization difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a packet interval counter as an intermediary mechanism to bridge the gap between BLE's lack of time information and the need for synchronization. The counter counts packet intervals and provides timing information without requiring time stamps in the packets, thus maintaining low power consumption while enabling synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional time-based synchronization mechanism (using time information in packets) with a packet-counting mechanism. Instead of relying on time stamps and time information, the system uses a counter to track packet intervals, substituting a mechanical counting approach for a time-based approach.
2Reliability
If conventional Bluetooth standards are used with time information in packets, then synchronization is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timing function from the packet data structure itself. Instead of including time information within the packets (which would increase power consumption), the timing information is extracted and provided separately through the packet interval counter mechanism, allowing synchronization without the overhead of time information in each packet.
3Use of energy by moving object
If packet transmission interval is increased to reduce communication frequency, then power consumption decreases, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The packet interval counter operates autonomously, counting packets automatically without requiring active processing or intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains synchronization accuracy by continuously tracking packet intervals even during extended intervals between transmissions, reducing power consumption while preserving precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a synchronization device that synchronizes time-series data between a master and a slave by wireless communication, the master including a packet transmission unit that transmits a plurality of packets at a predetermined interval, and the slave including a synchronization unit that synchronizes time-series data transmitted by the master and time-series data received by the slave on the basis of the interval between the plurality of packets.