Method and apparatus for lowering power use by a ranging receiver
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a ranging receiver, responsive to power control signals based on sensor signals indicating whether the ranging receiver is in motion, the power control signals for powering off selected components of the ranging receiver so as to put the ranging receiver in a standby mode as opposed to a fully active mode or a fully powered off mode, or powering on the selected components of the ranging receiver so as to put the ranging receiver in a fully active mode; and
a motion sensor, mechanically coupled to the ranging receiver so as to move when the ranging receiver moves, configured to provide the sensor signals,wherein the selected components of the ranging receiver is powered off if the sensor signals indicate the ranging receiver is stationary, and wherein the selected components of the ranging receiver is powered on if the sensor signals indicate the ranging receiver is in motion, or if a time since the powering off of the selected components of the ranging receiver has exceeded a predetermined time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Equipment and a method by which power consumed by a ranging receiver (12) is reduced without appreciably impairing performance of the GPS receiver (12), the method including: a step (21) in which a controller (15) reads sensor signals provided by a motion sensor (14) mechanically coupled to the ranging receiver (12); and a step (22) in which the controller (15) powers down selected components of the ranging receiver (12) based on whether the sensor signals indicate only at most insubstantial motion of the ranging receiver (12). The motion sensor is advantageously a motion sensor constructed using MEMS technology, but at any rate is of a type using so little power as to provide a power savings when used according to the invention, i.e. when it is always on and at least partially based on its sensor signals, the ranging receiver (12) is sometimes at least partially turned off.
71 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a ranging receiver, responsive to power control signals based on sensor signals indicating whether the ranging receiver is in motion, the power control signals for powering off selected components of the ranging receiver so as to put the ranging receiver in a standby mode as opposed to a fully active mode or a fully powered off mode, or powering on the selected components of the ranging receiver so as to put the ranging receiver in a fully active mode; and a motion sensor, mechanically coupled to the ranging receiver so as to move when the ranging receiver moves, configured to provide the sensor signals, wherein the selected components of the ranging receiver is powered off if the sensor signals indicate the ranging receiver is stationary, and wherein the selected components of the ranging receiver is powered on if the sensor signals indicate the ranging receiver is in motion, or if a time since the powering off of the selected components of the ranging receiver has exceeded a predetermined time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
wherein the apparatus provides the output signals indicating information as to the position or motion of the ranging receiver based on the ranging signals.
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9. A system, comprising:
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a cellular communication terminal including an apparatus as in claim 1, and a cellular communication network by which the cellular communication terminal is communicative with other communication terminals.
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10. A system, comprising:
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a cellular communication terminal including an apparatus as in claim 1; a cellular communication network by which the cellular communication terminal is communicative with other communication terminals; and one or more ranging satellites configured to provide ranging signals conveying navigation information; wherein the apparatus is configured to provide the output signals indicating information as to the position or motion of the ranging receiver based on the ranging signals.
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11. A method, comprising:
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reading sensor signals provided by a motion sensor mechanically coupled to a ranging receiver; powering down selected components of the ranging receiver so as to put the ranging receiver in a standby mode as opposed to a fully active mode or a fully powered off mode if the sensor signals indicate only at most insubstantial motion of the ranging receiver, and reapplying power to the selected components of the ranging receiver so as to put the ranging receiver in the fully active mode if the signals provided by the motion sensor indicate a significant motion of the ranging receiver, or if a time since the powering down of the selected components of the ranging receiver has exceeded a predetermined time. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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a ranging receiver, responsive to power control signals for powering on or off selected components of the ranging receiver so as to put the ranging receiver in a standby mode as opposed to a fully active mode or a fully powered off mode, and also responsive to ranging signals from sources for positioning, configured to provide output signals indicative of the location of the ranging receiver; motion sensor means, mechanically coupled to the ranging receiver so as to move with the ranging receiver, configured to provide sensor signals indicating whether the ranging receiver is in motion; and controller means, responsive to the sensor signals, configured to provide the power control signals so as to power off the selected components of the ranging receiver if the sensor signals indicate that the ranging receiver is substantially stationary, and configured to provide the power control signals for powering on the selected components of the ranging receiver if the sensor signals indicate the ranging receiver is in motion, or if a time since the powering off of the selected components of the ranging receiver has exceeded a predetermined time.
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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a ranging receiver, responsive to power control signals for powering on or off selected components of the ranging receiver so as to put the ranging receiver in a standby mode as opposed to a fully active mode or a fully powered off mode, and also responsive to ranging signals from sources for positioning, configured to provide output signals indicative of the location of the ranging receiver; a motion sensor, mechanically coupled to the ranging receiver so as to move with the ranging receiver, configured to provide sensor signals indicating whether the ranging receiver is in motion; and a controller, responsive to the sensor signals, configured to provide the power control signals so as to power off the selected components of the ranging receiver if the sensor signals indicate that the ranging receiver is substantially stationary, and configured to provide the power control signals so as to power on the selected components of the ranging receiver if the sensor signals indicate the ranging receiver is motion, or if a time since the powering off of the selected components of the ranging receiver has exceeded a predetermined time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification