Transceiver control with sleep mode operation

• US 6,236,674 B1
• Filed: 03/20/1996
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Teletransactions, Inc.
• Inventors: Morelli, Daniel J., Trompower, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIU, SHUWANG
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maddox, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/619,797
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 375/220, 375/219, 375/222, 455/343, 455/574, 455/73, 455/31.1, 455/38.3
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1615 Switching on; Switching off, e.g. remotely battery saving circuits associated with selective call operation H04W52/00; details of power consumption reduction in a PLL, H03L7/0802, H03L7/14, H03L2207/08, H03L2207/18; muting amplifiers by gain control see H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 TPC
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A transceiver which keeps circuitry associated with a receiver in a powered down state during periods when a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) indicates that a signal being received is below a pre-determined threshold level, and which begins to power up the transmitter as soon as it is determined that a packet being received requires a response. The RSSI signal represents the strength of any signal current being received, and if the RSSI signal falls below a given threshold level, digital circuitry associated with the back-end circuitry of the receiver system is disabled. If the RSSI signal rises above the threshold level, the digital circuitry of the receiver is enabled. A control circuit within the transceiver processes the packet as it is received to determine whether the packet requires a response. If it is determined that a response is necessary, the control circuit provides a control signal to the transmitter to power up the transmitter from a sleep mode even before the entire packet has been received and processed. The control circuit then continues to process the remainder of the packet as it is received while the transmitter powers up from the sleep mode. In this manner, the transmitter will become stabilized much earlier. Accordingly, the transceiver is able to respond more quickly than conventional devices and is thus able to increase response times and overall data exchange rates. Moreover, battery power of the transceiver is utilized more efficiently compared to devices which must continuously maintain the receiver and transmitter in fully powered modes.

Claims

1. A transceiver apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter portion for transmitting information;

a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for selectively switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in response to detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver while in the low power consumption mode, whereby the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the receiver portion includes power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the active mode but not activated in the low power consumption mode and power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode;

wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are not activated in the low sower consumption mode is reduced during the low sower consumption mode and increased during the active mode; and

wherein the supply of power is maintained to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode and in the active mode.

2. The transceiver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the low power consumption mode comprise a front end of the receiver portion having analog circuitry for initially receiving the information signal, and wherein the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode comprise a back end of the receiver portion including digital circuitry for further processing the information signal.

3. The transceiver apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control circuit detects the information signal based on a power level of the information signal obtained by the analog circuitry in the front end.

4. The transceiver apparatus of claim 3, wherein the power level is represented by a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) signal produced by the analog circuitry.

9. The transceiver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information signal is a radio frequency signal.

28. A transceiver apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the power-consuming components that are selectively activated during the active mode but not during the low power consumption mode are components which digitize, filter, and decode received signals when the receiver portion is in the active mode.

29. A transceiver apparatus as set forth in claim 28 wherein the power-consuming components that are activated during both the low power consumption mode and the active mode are components which downconvert and demodulate signals when the receiver portion is in the low power consumption mode and the active mode.

30. A transceiver apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein the power-consuming components which digitize, filter, and decode received signals is primarily an analog circuit and wherein the power-consuming components which downconvert and demodulate signals is primarily a digital circuit.

31. A transceiver apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode is non-intermittently supplied during the low power consumption mode.

5. A transceiver apparatus comprising:

a transmitter portion for transmitting information;

a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for selectively switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode upon detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver, whereby the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the control circuit switches the receiver portion between the active mode and the low power consumption mode based on a power level of the information signal;

wherein the control circuit includes a comparator for comparing the power level of the information signal to a threshold level, and the control circuit switches the receiver portion between the active mode and the low power consumption mode based on the comparison; and

wherein the control circuit further includes a circuit for calculating the threshold level based on a noise floor level.

6. The transceiver apparatus of claim 5, wherein the threshold level is update periodically.

7. A transceiver apparatus comprising:

a transmitter portion for transmitting information; and

a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for selectively switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode upon detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver, whereby the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the control circuit switches the receiver portion between the active mode and the low power consumption mode based on a power level of the information signal;

wherein the control circuit switches the receiver portion from the active mode to the low power consumption mode based also on a carrier sense signal obtained from the information signal.

8. A transceiver apparatus comprising:

a transmitter portion for transmitting information;

a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for selectively switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode upon detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver, whereby the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the control circuit switches the receiver portion between the active mode and the low power consumption mode based on a power level of the information signal; and

wherein the information signal includes a packet including length information relating to the packet, and the control circuit switches the receiver portion from the active mode to the low power consumption mode based also on an indicia of the length of the packet.

10. A transceiver apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter portion for transmitting information; and

a receiver portion for receiving information, wherein the receiver portion includes circuitry for detecting a signal strength of a received signal, and circuitry for disabling receiver circuitry included in the receiver portion if the signal strength of the received signal is below a pre-determined threshold; and

wherein the signal strength of the received signal is represented by a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) signal, the RSSI signal is input into a controller and a comparator, the controller generates a dynamically changing threshold signal based on a noise level, and the comparator compares the RSSI signal with the threshold signal generated by the controller.

11. A method for controlling a transceiver apparatus having a transmitter portion for transmitting information;

and a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode, the method comprising the step of;

selectively switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in response to detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver while in the low power consumption mode, whereby the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

said receiver portion including power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the active mode but not activated in the low power consumption mode and power-consuming components that are activated in both the low sower consumption mode and the active mode;

said selectively switching step including reducing the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are not activated in the low power consumption mode during the low power consumption mode and increasing the supply of power to these components during the active mode; and

said selectively switching step also including maintaining the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode and in the active mode.

32. A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of non-intermittently supplying power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode.

12. A method for controlling a transceiver apparatus having a transmitter portion for transmitting information, and a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode, the method comprising the step of:

selectively switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode upon detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver, whereby the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the information signal is detected by detecting a power level of the information signal;

wherein the receiver portion is switched if the power level is greater than a predetermined threshold; and

wherein the predetermined threshold is updated periodically based on a current noise level.

13. A method for controlling a transceiver apparatus having transmitter portion for transmitting information;

and a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode, the method comprising the step of;

selectively switching the receiver portion from the active mode to the low power consumption mode if a signal strength of a received signal falls below a predetermined threshold; and

wherein the receiver portion is switched if the power level is less than a predetermined threshold, and the predetermined threshold is updated periodically based on a current noise level.

14. A transceiver apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter portion for transmitting information, the transmitter portion being switchable, based on a control input, between a low power consumption mode and an active mode during which information is transmitted;

a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for selectively switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in response to detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver while in the low power consumption mode, whereby the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the receiver portion includes power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the active mode but not activated in the low power consumption mode and power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode;

wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are not activated in the low power consumption mode is reduced during the low sower consumption mode and increased during the active mode; and

wherein the supply of power is maintained to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode and in the active mode.

33. A transceiver apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode is non-intermittently supplied during the low power consumption mode.

15. A transceiver apparatus comprising:

a transmitter portion for transmitting information, the transmitter portion being switchable, based on a control input, between a low power consumption mode and an active mode during which information is transmitted;

a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for selectively switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in response to detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver, whereby the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the control circuit includes a circuit for determining whether the information signal requires a response and for switching the transmitter portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in the event the information signal requires a response.

16. The transceiver apparatus of claim 15, wherein the transmitter portion is switched to the active mode prior to the receiver portion receiving the entire information signal.

17. A receiver apparatus, comprising:

a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for selectively switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in response to detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver while in the low power consumption mode, whereby the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the receiver portion includes power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the active mode but not activated in the low sower consumption mode and power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode;

wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are not activated in the low power consumption mode is reduced during the low power consumption mode and increased during the active mode; and

wherein the supply of power is maintained to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode and in the active mode.

34. A transceiver apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode is non-intermittently supplied during the low power consumption mode.

18. A receiver apparatus, comprising:

a receiver portion for receiving information, wherein the receiver portion includes circuitry for detecting a signal strength of a received signal, and circuitry for disabling receiver circuitry included in the receiver portion if the signal strength of the received signal is below a pre-determined threshold; and

wherein the pre-determined threshold is updated periodically based on a current noise level.

19. A cellular communication system, comprising:

a network;

a host computer coupled to the network;

a plurality of base stations coupled to the network and communicating with the host computer, each of the base stations including a base station transmitter for transmitting wireless communications and a base station receiver for receiving wireless communications; and

a plurality of mobile terminals each for communicating with the network by way of at least one of the plurality of base stations, each of the plurality of mobile terminals having a mobile terminal receiver for receiving wireless communications from at least one of the plurality of base stations;

wherein the receiver of at least one of the mobile terminals or base stations includes;

a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for selectively switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in response to detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver while in the low power consumption mode, whereby the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the receiver portion includes power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the active mode but not activated in the low power consumption mode and power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode;

wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are not activated in the low power consumption mode is reduced during the low power consumption mode and increased during the active mode; and

wherein the supply of power is maintained to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode and in the active mode.

35. A cellular communication system as set forth in claim 19 wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode is non-intermittently supplied during the low power consumption mode.

20. A cellular communication system comprising:

a network;

a host computer coupled to the network;

a plurality of base stations coupled to the network and communicating with the host computer, each of the base stations including a base station transmitter for transmitting wireless communications and a base station receiver for receiving wireless communications; and

a plurality of mobile terminals each for communicating with the network by way of at least one of the plurality of base stations, each of the plurality of mobile terminals having a mobile terminal receiver for receiving wireless communications from at least one of the plurality of base stations;

wherein the receiver of at least one of the mobile terminals or base stations includes;

a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for selectively switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode by detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver, whereby the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the control circuit switches the receiver portion between the active mode and the low power consumption mode based on a power level of the information signal;

wherein the control circuit includes a circuit for comparing the power level of the information signal to a threshold level, and the control circuit switches the receiver portion between the active mode and the low power consumption mode based on the comparison; and

wherein the control circuit further includes threshold level circuitry for calculating and updating the threshold level based on a current noise floor level.

21. A transceiver apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter portion which transmits information;

a receiver portion which receives information and which is switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion which selectively switches the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in response to detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver while in the low power consumption mode so that the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the receiver portion includes power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the active mode but not activated in the low power consumption mode and power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode;

wherein the supply of Dower to the power-consuming components that are not activated in the low power consumption mode is reduced during the low power consumption mode and increased during the active mode; and

wherein the supply of power is maintained to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode and in the active mode.

36. A transceiver apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode is non-intermittently supplied during the low power consumption mode.

22. A transceiver apparatus, comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting information;

receiving means for receiving information; and

control means for selectively switching the receiver means from a low power consumption mode to an active mode in response to detecting, while the receiving means is in the low power consumption mode, an information signal to be received so that the receiving means receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the receiving means includes power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the active mode but not activated in the low power consumption mode and power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode;

wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are not activated in the low power consumption mode is reduced during the low power consumption mode and increased during the active mode; and

wherein the supply of power is maintained to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode and in the active mode.

37. A transceiver apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode is non-intermittently supplied during the low power consumption mode.

23. A method for controlling a transceiver apparatus having a transmitter portion for transmitting information and a receiver portion for receiving information;

said method comprising the steps of;

detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver portion when the receiver power is in a low power consumption mode; and

switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to an active mode in response to the detecting step;

said switching step being performed so that the information signal is received by the receiver portion when it is in the active mode;

said receiving portion including power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the active mode but not activated in the low power consumption mode and power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode;

said switching step including reducing the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are not activated in the low power consumption mode during the low sower consumption mode and increasing the supply of power during the active mode; and

said switching step also including maintaining the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode and in the active mode.

38. A method as set forth in claim 23 including the step of non-intermittently supplying power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode.

24. A receiver apparatus, comprising:

a receiver portion which receives information and which is switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion which selectively switches the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode, while the receiver portion is in the low power consumption mode in response to detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver so that the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the receiver portion includes power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the active mode but not activated in the low power consumption mode and power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode;

wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are not activated in the low power consumption mode is reduced during the low power consumption mode and increased during the active mode; and

wherein the supply of power is maintained to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode and in the active mode.

39. A receiver apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode is non-intermittently supplied during the low power consumption mode.

25. A receiver apparatus, comprising:

receiving means for receiving information; and

control means for selectively switching the receiver means from a low power consumption mode to an active mode in response to detecting an information signal to be received, while the receiving means is in the low power consumption mode so that the receiving means receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the receiver portion-includes power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the active mode but not activated in the low power consumption mode and power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode;

wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are not activated in the low power consumption mode is reduced during the low power consumption mode and increased during the active mode; and

wherein the supply of power is maintained to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode and in the active mode.

40. A receiver apparatus as set forth in claim 25 wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode is non-intermittently supplied during the low power consumption mode.

26. A method for controlling a receiver apparatus comprising the steps of

detecting an information signal to be received by a receiver portion when the receiver portion is in a low power consumption mode;

and

switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to an active mode in response to the detecting step;

said switching step being performed so that the information signal is received by the receiver portion when it is in the active mode;

said receiver portion including Power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the active mode but not activated in the low power consumption mode and power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode;

said switching step including reducing the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are not activated in the low power consumption mode during the low power consumption mode and increasing the supply of power to these components during the active mode; and

said switching step also including the step of maintaining the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode and in the active mode.

41. A method as set forth in claim 26 including step of non-intermittently supplying power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode is non-intermittently supplied during the low power consumption mode.

27. A cellular communication system, comprising:

a network;

a host computer coupled to the network;

a plurality of base stations coupled to the network and communicating with the host computer, each of the base stations including a base station transmitter for transmitting wireless communications and a base station receiver for receiving wireless communications; and

a plurality of mobile terminals each for communicating with the network by way of at least one of the plurality of base stations, each of the plurality of mobile terminals having a mobile terminal receiver for receiving wireless communications from at least one of the plurality of base stations;

wherein the receiver of at least one of the mobile terminals or base stations includes;

a receiver portion which receives information and which is switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion which selectively switches the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in response to detecting an information signal, while in the low power consumption mode to be received by the receiver so that the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein the receiver portion includes power-consuming components that are selectively activated in the active mode but not activated in the low power consumption mode and power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode;

wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are not activated in the low power consumption mode is reduced during the low power consumption mode and increased during the active mode; and

wherein the supply of power is maintained to the Dower-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode during the low power consumption mode and in the active mode.

42. A cellular communication system as set forth in claim 27 wherein the supply of power to the power-consuming components that are activated in both the low power consumption mode and the active mode is non-intermittently supplied during the low power consumption mode.

43. A transceiver apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter portion for transmitting information;

a receiver portion for receiving information, the receiver portion being switchable between a low power consumption mode and an active mode; and

a control circuit coupled to the receiver portion for selectively switching the receiver portion from the low power consumption mode to the active mode in response to detecting an information signal to be received by the receiver, whereby the receiver portion receives the information signal in the active mode;

wherein when operating in the low power consumption mode the apparatus consumes power at a substantially constant lower power level which is lower that an amount of power consumed by the apparatus when operating in the active mode.