Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B5/00—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
  • H04B5/40—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems characterised by components specially adapted for near-field transmission
  • H04B5/45—Transponders
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
  • H04B1/06—Receivers
  • H04B1/16—Circuits
  • H04B1/18—Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
  • H04B1/005—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges
  • H04B1/0053—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges with common antenna for more than one band
  • H04B1/006—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges with common antenna for more than one band using switches for selecting the desired band
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B5/00—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
  • H04B5/70—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems specially adapted for specific purposes
  • H04B5/72—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems specially adapted for specific purposes for local intradevice communication
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
  • Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
  • Y02D30/70—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wireless communication networks

Definitions

• the present invention belongs to the general field of telecommunications. It relates more particularly to a device for controlling the operation of a wireless communication device, as well as to an associated control method. It also relates to a wireless communication device comprising such a control device as well as a wireless communication system comprising such a wireless communication device.
• the invention finds a particularly advantageous application, although in no way limiting, for applications of the “Internet of Things” type (“Internet of Things” or IoT in Anglo-Saxon literature).
• FDD frequency multiplexing scheme
• Frequency Division Duplex a frequency multiplexing scheme
• such an architecture comprises a front module (also called a “front end” module in the Anglo-Saxon literature) comprising an RF transmission chain (acronym for "Radio Frequency”) as well as an RF reception chain.
• RF transmission chain an RF transmission chain
• reception chain an RF reception chain.
• filtering means such as typically a diplexer
• DSP electronic signal processing unit
• Each chain comprises a plurality of electronic equipment.
• such equipment is conventionally, in the direction going from the DSP unit to the antenna, a digital-analog converter, filtering equipment, such as for example a low-pass filter, a modulator and a power amplifier.
• This transmission chain can also include other equipment, such as for example a quartz oscillator, a frequency synthesizer, etc.
• the reception chain such equipment is conventionally, in the direction going from the antenna to the DSP unit, a low noise amplifier, a demodulator, filtering equipment, such as for example a low pass filter, and an analog-to-digital converter.
• this reception chain may include other equipment, such as for example a quartz oscillator, a frequency synthesizer, etc.
• switching means such as for example a selection switch, configured to selectively turn off or power electronic equipment.
• energy intensive such as those mentioned above.
• said switching means make it possible to supply electronic equipment in the transmission chain (power amplifier, digital-analog converter, etc.) during the transmission of a message, and, conversely, make it possible to turn off this equipment when no message needs to be sent.
• said switching means make it possible to supply electronic equipment in the reception chain (low noise amplifier, analog-to-digital converter, etc.) when receiving a message, and, conversely, make it possible to switch off this equipment when no message needs to be received.
• the object of the present invention is to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art, in particular those set out above, by proposing a solution which makes it possible, in comparison with the solutions of the prior art, to reduce the energy consumption of a wireless communication device comprising a conventional architecture to operate according to an FDD scheme, and in particular to reduce the ratio between energy consumption and range of a communication.
• the invention relates to a device for controlling the operation of a wireless communication device comprising an antenna, a front module comprising a transmission chain and a reception chain respectively configured for the transmission and reception of signals via said antenna according to a frequency multiplexing scheme, the front module being connected to the antenna by means of filtering means configured to separate at least one transmission frequency band and to the at least one reception frequency band respectively associated with the transmission and reception chains, as well as switching means capable of configuring at least one chain, called a “processing chain”, from among said transmission and reception chains following at least two modes including:
• control device is intended to be integrated into said communication device and comprises a control module configured to control said switching means so that the processing chain alternates between said first and second modes and thus the control device. communication selectively varies its backscattering of an ambient signal transmitted in a frequency band associated with the processing chain.
• control device configured in software and hardware to create variations in the impedance presented to the antenna (ie attached to the antenna or even connected to the port of the antenna) equipping the wireless communication device.
• the invention therefore makes it possible to advantageously take advantage of these variations in impedance generated thanks to the control device so that the wireless communication device is able to backscatter an ambient signal emitted by a transmitting source.
• the backscattering of an ambient signal takes place between a transmitter device (in this case, in the context of the present invention, the wireless communication device equipped with said control device) and a device receiver separate from the source transmitting the ambient signal.
• the transmitting device uses the ambient signal to send data to said receiving device. More particularly, the transmitting device reflects the ambient signal towards the receiving device, possibly by modulating it. The signal thus reflected is called a “backscattered signal”, and is intended to be decoded by the receiving device (i.e. the receiving device extracts from the backscattered signal information transmitted by the transmitting device, for example in the form of bits).
• the transmitter device is therefore configured with a control device so that at least one processing chain (transmission chain and / or reception chain) can interact variably (resonate variably), via the antenna, with the ambient signal when the latter is emitted at a frequency included in the frequency band associated with said processing chain.
• the processing chain can pass from a first state associated with said first mode to a second state associated with said second mode.
• the receiving device for its part, is configured to decode the signal possibly backscattered by the transmitting device.
• this decoding is effectively implemented when the difference in electromagnetic power received by the receiving device, between times when the transmitting device is respectively in the first state and in the second state, exceeds a determined threshold, called "power threshold”, above the noise level of the receiver (which is constant). Indeed, if this power threshold is not reached, difficulties may arise on the side of the receiving device to detect that the transmitting device is in a backscattering state.
• the invention advantageously makes it possible to exploit the existing hardware and software architecture of the wireless communication device, the control module being able to generate impedance differences on the basis of this. architecture.
• the wireless communication device is offered an additional communication mode, namely therefore an ambient backscattering communication mode, in addition to the communication modes conventionally associated with a frequency multiplexing scheme (ie data exchange via transmission / reception channels and antenna radiation).
• the control device offers the possibility of reducing the energy consumption of the wireless communication device when it is appropriate for the latter to communicate by ambient backscattering, that is to say - say, typically and as already mentioned above, when he is near a receiving device with which he wants to communicate and / or when it is near the emitting source.
• the invention makes it possible to avoid using a traditional mode of communication involving the conventional use of a transmission or reception channel as well as the radiation from the antenna.
• control device may further include one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination.
• the ambient signal is backscattered under control of the variation in impedance controlled by said control device
• the switching means are configured to switch off or selectively power a given electronic equipment item of said at least one processing chain, said first / second mode corresponding to a configuration in which said electronic equipment item is switched off / powered by said switching means.
• control module to control the power supply of electronic equipment in the processing chain to generate the variation in impedance from which an ambient signal emitted at a frequency included in the frequency band associated with said processing chain can be backscattered.
• said at least one processing chain is the transmission chain and said electronic equipment item is a power amplifier or a digital-to-analog converter.
• said at least one processing chain is the reception chain and said electronic equipment is a low noise amplifier or an analog-to-digital converter.
• the switching means belong to said at least one processing chain, and comprise an impedance matching circuit configurable according to at least two distinct configurations, a first configuration and a second configuration, said first / second mode corresponding to a configuration in which the impedance matching circuit is configured according to said first configuration / said second configuration by virtue of said switching means.
• the invention relates to a wireless communication device comprising an antenna, a front module comprising a transmission chain and a reception chain respectively configured for the transmission and reception of signals via said antenna.
• the front module being connected to the antenna by means of filtering means configured to separate at least one transmission frequency band and at least one reception frequency band respectively associated with the transmission chains and reception, as well as switching means capable of configuring at least one chain, called a “processing chain”, from among said transmission and reception chains according to at least two modes, including:
• said wireless communication device comprises a control device according to the invention.
• the invention relates to a wireless communication system comprising:
• an emitting source configured to emit an ambient signal
• a second wireless communication device configured to receive the ambient signal backscattered by said first communication device.
• the invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a wireless communication device comprising an antenna, a front module comprising a transmission chain and a reception chain respectively configured for transmission. and the reception of signals via said antenna according to a frequency multiplexing scheme, the front module being connected to the antenna by means of filtering means configured to separate at least one transmission frequency band and at least one frequency band of reception respectively associated with the transmission and reception chains, as well as switching means capable of configuring at least one chain, called a “processing chain”, from among said transmission and reception chains according to at least two modes including:
• control method is implemented by a control device according to the invention, integrated into said wireless communication device and comprising a step of controlling said switching means so that the processing chain alternates between said first and second modes and that thus the communication device selectively varies its backscattering of an ambient signal emitted in a frequency band associated with the processing chain.
• the invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions for the implementation of a control method according to the invention when said program is executed by a computer.
• This program can use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in n ' any other desirable shape.
• the invention relates to an information or recording medium readable by a computer on which a computer program according to the invention is recorded.
• the information or recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program.
• the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or else a magnetic recording means, for example a floppy disk or a disk. hard.
• the information or recording medium can be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which can be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means.
• the program according to the invention can in particular be downloaded from an Internet type network.
• the information or recording medium can be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the method in question.
• the invention relates to a communication method implemented by a wireless communication system according to the invention, in which an ambient signal transmitted by the transmitting source is backscattered by the first communication device without wire and received by the second wireless communication device.
• FIG. 1 schematically represents, in its environment, a particular embodiment of a communication system according to the invention
• FIG. 2 schematically represents an example of the hardware architecture of a wireless communication device according to the invention belonging to the communication system of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 schematically represents an example of the hardware architecture of a control device according to the invention fitted to the wireless communication device of FIG. 2;
• FIG. 4 schematically represents a first embodiment of switching means of the wireless communication device
• FIG. 5 schematically represents a second embodiment of switching means of the wireless communication device
• FIG. 6 schematically represents a third embodiment of switching means of the wireless communication device
• FIG. 7 represents, in the form of a flowchart, a particular example of implementation of a control method according to the invention.
• FIG. 8 schematically represents an example of a data transmission scenario implemented by the transmitter device D_TX.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows, in its environment, a particular embodiment of a wireless communication system 10 according to the invention.
• the wireless communication system 10 comprises a transmitter source SO configured to transmit, according to a transmission frequency F_E included in a given frequency band called "transmission band", a radio signal called "ambient signal”.
• the emission of the ambient signal takes place, for example, permanently or alternatively on a recurring basis.
• radioelectric signal we refer here to an electromagnetic wave propagating by wireless means, the frequencies of which are included in the traditional spectrum of radio waves (a few hertz to several hundred gigahertz).
• the ambient signal is a 4G mobile telephone signal transmitted in the transmission band [811 MHz, 821 MHz] by the source SO which takes the form of a relay antenna.
• the invention remains applicable to other types of radio signals, such as for example a mobile telephone signal other than 4G (for example 2G, 3G, 5G), a Wi-Fi signal, a WiMax signal, a DVB-T signal, etc.
• a mobile telephone signal other than 4G for example 2G, 3G, 5G
• Wi-Fi signal for example, a Wi-Fi signal
• WiMax signal for example, a WiMax signal
• DVB-T signal a mobile telephone signal other than 4G (for example 2G, 3G, 5G), a Wi-Fi signal, a WiMax signal, a DVB-T signal, etc.
• the ambient radio signal which may be considered within the scope of the present invention. Consequently, it should be noted that the number of antennas equipping the source SO does not constitute a limiting factor of the invention.
• the communication system 10 also comprises a first wireless communication device, called “transmitter device” D_TX, as well as a second wireless communication device, called “receiver device” D_RX and separate from the source SO, respectively. configured to communicate with each other, as detailed below.
• a first wireless communication device called “transmitter device” D_TX
• a second wireless communication device called “receiver device” D_RX and separate from the source SO, respectively. configured to communicate with each other, as detailed below.
• the communication system 10 comprises a single transmitter device D_TX and a single receiver device D_RX. It should however be specified that the invention is also applicable to a communication system comprising a plurality of transmitting devices and / or a plurality of receiving devices, this aspect not constituting a limiting factor of the invention.
• the transmitter device D_TX is a mobile telephone of the “smartphone” type.
• the D_TX transmitter device when the latter is able to perform wireless communications.
• it can be a laptop, a personal assistant, a communicating object, etc.
• FIG. 2 schematically represents an example of hardware architecture of the D_TX transmitter device according to the invention belonging to the communication system 10 of FIG. 1.
• the D_TX transmitter device is equipped with an antenna 100.
• the D_TX transmitter device also includes a front module comprising a transmission chain C_TX and a reception chain C_RX respectively configured for the transmission and reception of signals via said antenna 100 according to an FDD frequency multiplexing scheme (ie frequency duplex for simultaneous transmission and reception in two distinct frequency bands).
• FDD frequency multiplexing scheme ie frequency duplex for simultaneous transmission and reception in two distinct frequency bands.
• said C_TX transmission chain comprises a digital-analog converter 101, a modulator 102 as well as a power amplifier 103.
• the C_RX reception chain for its part, comprises a low noise amplifier 104, a demodulator 105 as well as an analog-to-digital converter 106.
• Said D_TX transmitter device also comprises an electronic signal processing unit, called a "DSP" unit, configured to generate baseband signals intended to be routed to the antenna via the C_TX transmission chain as well as in processing signals received by the antenna and sent to said DSP unit via the reception chain C_RX.
• DSP electronic signal processing unit
• the DSP unit comprises for example one or more processors and storage means (magnetic hard disk, electronic memory, optical disc, etc.) in which data and a computer program are stored, in the form of a set of program code instructions to be executed to implement the aforementioned signal processing.
• processors and storage means magnetic hard disk, electronic memory, optical disc, etc.
• the DSP unit also includes one or more programmable logic circuits, of FPGA, PLD, etc. type, and / or specialized integrated circuits (ASIC), and / or a set of discrete electronic components, etc. suitable for implementing said signal processing.
• programmable logic circuits of FPGA, PLD, etc. type, and / or specialized integrated circuits (ASIC), and / or a set of discrete electronic components, etc. suitable for implementing said signal processing.
• the DSP unit comprises a set of means configured in software (specific computer program) and / or hardware (FPGA, PLD, ASIC, etc.) to implement said processing operations. signals.
• the D_TX transmitter device also comprises filtering means 111 through which the front module is connected to the antenna 100.
• said filtering means 111 are configured to separate a transmission frequency band of the antenna 100 and a reception frequency band of the antenna 100. Said transmission and reception bands of the antenna 100 are respectively associated with the transmission C_TX and reception C_RX chains.
• said filtering means 111 are a design diplexer known per se, that is to say an electronic component comprising two filters FI_1, FI_2, for example two band-pass filters, the filter FI_1 / FI_2 making it possible to isolate the signals whose frequency is included in the transmission / reception band.
• filtering means configured to separate several transmission frequency bands and / or several reception frequency bands.
• the C_TX transmission chain and / or the C_RX reception chain can also include other electronic equipment.
• no limitation is attached to the number of antennas that can equip the D_TX transmitter device, or even to the number of transmission and reception channels, it being understood that the number of antennas is greater than or equal to the number of channels. transmission as well as the number of reception channels, this aspect also being known to those skilled in the art.
• the D_TX transmitter device also comprises switching means 110 capable of configuring a chain, called a "processing chain", among said transmission and reception chains according to at least two modes including:
• a second mode M_2 in which the processing chain presents a second impedance to the antenna 100, said first and second impedances being distinct from one another.
• impedance presented to the antenna we refer here to the equivalent impedance of the electronic circuits belonging to said processing chain and connected at a given time to the antenna 100, this impedance therefore depending on the mode in which is configured the processing chain via said switching means 110.
• FIG. 2 here illustrates schematically the general structure of the D_TX transmitter device according to the invention.
• switching means 110 are described in more detail later through different figures.
• the D_TX transmitter device comprises a D_CO control device implementing processing aimed at allowing the D_TX transmitter device to selectively vary the backscattering of the ambient signal emitted by the source SO, by implementing a control method of the operation of said D_TX transmitter device.
• the antenna 100 of the D_TX transmitter device is configured, in a manner known per se, to receive the ambient signal but also backscatter it to the D_RX receiver device.
• said transmission and reception bands of the antenna 100 are included in the transmission band associated with the source SO, and are therefore qualified as “working bands”.
• working band reference is made here to the fact that the transmitter device D_TX is compatible with the source SO, namely that the backscatter can be carried out for any frequency included in said working bands.
• the transmission band of the antenna 100 and / or the reception band of the antenna 100 are not included in the transmission band of the source SO. It is nevertheless implied that for the transmitter device D_TX to be able to backscatter the ambient signal in the transmission band of the antenna 100 and / or the reception band of the antenna 100, the transmission band of the The antenna 100 and / or the reception band of the antenna 100 and must / must have a non-empty intersection with the emission band of the source SO, the working band considered corresponding therefore to this intersection.
• the antenna 100 equipping the D_TX transmitter device is not only configured to allow backscattering of the ambient signal emitted by the source SO, but also to transmit and receive, in a conventional manner, radio signals via the chain respectively.
• transmission C_TX and the reception chain C_RX are not only configured to allow backscattering of the ambient signal emitted by the source SO, but also to transmit and receive, in a conventional manner, radio signals via the chain respectively.
• the receiver device D_RX is equipped with a reception antenna (not shown in the figures) configured to receive signals backscattered by the transmitter device D_TX.
• said receiver device D_RX is a cell phone of the smartphone type.
• the antenna equipping the D_RX receiver device is not only configured to allow interaction with the signal backscattered by the D_TX transmitter device, but also to receive, in a conventional manner, radio signals via a reception chain and a unit electronic whose configurations are respectively similar to those of the C_RX reception chain and of the DSP unit fitted to the D_TX transmitter device.
• the source SO is a cellular telephone, for example of the smartphone type
• the receiver device D_RX is a base station
• the source SO and the receiver device D_RX are both cellular telephones, for example of the smartphone type
• the source SO is a domestic gateway (also called an “Internet box”) emitting a Wi-Fi signal
• the receiving device D_RX is a cellular telephone, for example of the smartphone type, etc .;
• FIG. 3 schematically represents an example of the hardware architecture of the D_CO control device according to the invention configured to implement said control method.
• the D_CO control device has the hardware architecture of a computer.
• a D_CO control device comprises, in particular, a processor 1, a random access memory 2, a read only memory 3 and a non-volatile memory 4. It also has a communication module 5.
• the communication module 5 allows in particular the control device D_CO to transmit control signals to the switching means 110.
• This communication module 5 comprises for example a computer data bus capable of transmitting said control signals.
• the communication module 5 comprises a communication interface, wired or wireless, capable of implementing any suitable protocol known to those skilled in the art (Ethernet, Wifi,
• the read only memory 3 of the D_CO control device constitutes a recording medium according to the invention, readable by the processor 1 and on which is recorded a computer program PROG according to the invention, comprising instructions for the execution of steps of the control method according to the invention.
• the PROG program defines functional modules of the D_CO control device, which are based on or control the hardware elements 2 to 5 of the D_CO control device mentioned above, and which in particular include a MOD_CO control module configured to control said switching means 110 so that the front module alternates between said first M_1 and second M_2 modes. In this way, the D_TX communication device can backscatter the ambient signal from the source SO.
• said MOD_CO control module is further configured to control the switching means 110 so that the transmitter device D_TX is able to transmit data by means of the transmission chain C_TX and receive signals. data using the C_RX receive string.
• the control module MOD_CO allows the transmitter device D_TX to communicate in a conventional manner with the receiver device D_RX.
• the MOD_CO control module is only configured to allow communication by ambient backscattering, and that another control module of the D_TX transmitter device is configured to allow conventional communication via the C_TX transmission / C_RX reception chains.
• communication by ambient backscattering consists of the use of the ambient signal, by the transmitter device D_TX, to send data to said receiver device D_RX.
• the sending of such data by variation of the backscattering of the ambient signal relies essentially on the possibility of modifying the impedance presented to the antenna 100, as a function of said data to be sent.
• the transmitter device D_TX is associated with operating states, namely ideally a so-called “backscatter” state (the transmitter device D_TX can backscatter the ambient signal) in one of said modes M_1, M_2, as well as a state
• backscatter the transmitter device D_TX can backscatter the ambient signal
• non-backscattering the transmitter device D_TX cannot backscatter the ambient signal, or, in other words, is “transparent” to the ambient signal
• the impedance associated with the backscattering state typically corresponds to zero or infinite impedance, while the impedance associated with the non-backscattering state typically corresponds to the complex conjugate of the characteristic impedance of the antenna in the medium. propagation considered at the considered frequency.
• the invention is not limited to this ideal case in which only two states which are respectively perfectly backscattering and perfectly non-backscattering would be considered. Indeed, the invention also remains applicable in the case where two states (first state and second state) are not perfectly backscattering / non-backscattering, since the variation of the backscattered waves is perceptible by a receiving device which is practically and economically feasible. .
• Data intended to be transmitted by the transmitter device D_TX are conventionally encoded by means of a set of symbols, comprising for example a symbol called "high” (bit of value "1”), or else a symbol called " low ”(bit with value“ 0 ”).
• the transmission of such data by variation of the ambient backscattering can therefore be carried out, in a manner known per se, by alternation between said first M_1 and second M_2 configuration modes of the front module, each of said modes M_l, M_2 being dedicated to the transmission of a symbol of a particular type (for example high symbol for the first mode M_1 and low symbol for the second mode M_2, or vice versa).
• the data intended to be transmitted by the transmitting device D_TX are transported to the receiver device D_RX by modulation of the waves emitted by the source SO (ie by back-modulation).
• the remainder of the description aims to detail several embodiments of the switching means 110 belonging to the hardware architecture of the D_TX transmitter device of FIG. 2.
• Each of these embodiments offers the possibility of alternating, via appropriate commands generated by the MOD_CO control module of the D_CO control device, between said first M_1 and second M_2 modes of the processing chain considered.
• FIG. 4 schematically represents a first embodiment of said switching means 110.
• the switching means described in this first embodiment are designated by the reference sign "110_1" in figure 4.
• the switching means 110_1 are configured in this first embodiment to switch off (initials "OFF” in FIG. 4) or power (initials "ON” in FIG. 4) selectively a given electronic device of the C_TX transmission chain.
• Said switching means 110_1 are for example a design selector switch known per se.
• those skilled in the art know how to implement switching means capable of selectively switching off or powering electronic equipment of the C_TX transmission chain, as is for example described in the document by J. Wu et al. al. already mentioned before.
• the electronic equipment that can be switched off or powered by said switching means 110_1 is the power amplifier 103.
• said power amplifier 103 constitutes the electronic equipment of the C_TX transmission chain which consumes the most energy.
• the choice of a given electronic device of the transmission chain, to be switched off or supplied by said switching means 110_1, only constitutes a variant implementation of the invention.
• a choice which differs from said power amplifier 103 can be considered, such as for example said digital-to-analog converter 101, modulator 102, etc.
• the processing chain which is considered corresponds to the transmission chain C_TX
• the first mode M_1 of said processing chain corresponds to a configuration in which said given electronic equipment item is turned off by means of said switching means 110_1.
• the second mode M_2 of said processing chain corresponds to a configuration in which said given electronic equipment item is powered by said switching means 110_1.
• the variation in impedance between the first M_1 and second M_2 configuration modes results from the fact that the electronic equipment considered in the transmission chain C_TX is selectively switched off or powered.
• FIG. 5 schematically represents a second embodiment of said switching means 110.
• the switching means described in this second embodiment are designated by the reference sign "110_2" in figure 5.
• Said second embodiment is substantially similar to that of the first embodiment of FIG. 4, except that the processing chain here no longer corresponds to the transmission chain C_TX but to the reception chain C_RX.
• the switching means 110_2 are configured to selectively switch off or power a given electronic item of equipment of the C_RX reception chain.
• Said switching means 110_2 are for example a design selector switch known per se.
• a person skilled in the art knows how to use switching means capable of selectively switching off or powering electronic equipment of the C_RX reception chain, as is for example described in the document by F. Li et al. . already mentioned before.
• the electronic equipment item which can be switched off or powered by said switching means 110_2 is the low noise amplifier 104.
• the choice of a given electronic item of equipment in the reception chain, to be switched off or powered by said switching means 110_2 only constitutes a variant implementation of the invention.
• a choice which differs from said low noise amplifier 104 can be considered, such as for example the demodulator 105, said analog-to-digital converter 106, etc.
• the first mode M_1 of the processing chain corresponds to a configuration in which said given electronic equipment item is switched off by virtue of said switching means 110_2.
• the second mode M_2 of the processing chain corresponds to a configuration in which said given electronic equipment item is powered by said switching means 110_2.
• the variation in impedance related to the antenna by the reception chain C_RX between the first M_1 and second M_2 configuration modes of the processing chain results from the fact that the electronic equipment considered in the chain of reception C_RX is selectively switched off or powered.
• FIG. 6 diagrammatically represents a third embodiment of said switching means 110.
• the switching means described in this third embodiment are designated by the reference sign "110_3" in figure 6.
• said switching means 110_3 belong to the transmission chain C_TX.
• said switching means 110_3 comprise an impedance matching circuit CIR_Z configurable according to at least two distinct configurations, a first configuration and a second configuration.
• said second configuration corresponds to a configuration according to which the impedance matching circuit CIR_Z modifies the impedance presented to the antenna 100 by means of a first capacitor CH_1 (respectively of a second capacitor CH_2) .
• the design and implementation of such an impedance matching circuit are known to those skilled in the art, so that this aspect is not described further here.
• said impedance matching circuit CIR_Z is arranged in the transmission chain C_TX at the foot of the antenna 100, that is to say after the power amplifier 103 in the direction from the DSP unit to said antenna 100.
• the processing chain which is considered corresponds to the transmission chain C_TX
• said first mode M_1 corresponds to a configuration in which the adaptation circuit of impedance CIR_Z is configured according to said first configuration by virtue of said switching means 110_3.
• said second mode M_2 corresponds to a configuration in which the impedance matching circuit CIR_Z is configured according to said second configuration by virtue of said switching means 110_3.
• the variation in impedance between the first M_1 and second M_2 configuration modes of the processing chain results from the fact that the capacitor used by the impedance matching circuit CIR_Z is either the first capacitor CH_1 or the second capacitor CH_2.
• the third embodiment of FIG. 6 has been described by considering only two capacitors CH_1, CH_2 of the impedance matching circuit CIR_Z, it should be noted that no limitation is attached to the number of capacitors through which the impedance matching circuit CIR_Z can modify the impedance presented to the antenna 100, since this number is greater than or equal to two (in this case, the impedance circuit CIR_Z is configurable according to as many configurations as the number of capacitors).
• switching means 110 comprising:
• first switching means configured to selectively switch off or power a given electronic item of equipment of the C_TX transmission chain
• second switching means configured to selectively switch off or power a given electronic item of equipment of the reception chain C_RX (ie second switching means similar to the switching means 110_2 described with reference to FIG. 5).
• the switching means 110 may comprise:
• first switching means belonging to the transmission chain C_TX, and comprising an impedance matching circuit configured to modify the impedance presented to the antenna 100 by means of at least two separate electronic components of said impedance matching circuit (ie first switching means similar to switching means 110_3 described with reference to FIG. 6),
• second switching means belonging to the reception chain C_RX, and comprising an impedance matching circuit configured to modify the impedance presented to the antenna 100 by means of at least two separate loads of said circuit d impedance matching (ie second switching means similar to the switching means 110_3 described with reference to FIG. 6, with the difference that they belong here to the reception chain C_RX).
• the invention covers any technically possible combination of said first, second and third embodiments.
• the invention further relates to a method for controlling the operation of the D_TX transmitter device.
• This control method is implemented by the D_CO control device equipping said D_TX transmitter device, more particularly by the MOD_CO control module.
• said control method comprises a step of controlling the switching means 110 so that the processing chain considered alternates between said first M_1 and second M_2 modes and thus that said transmitter device D_TX selectively varies its backscattering of the ambient signal emitted by the source SO, when said ambient signal is emitted in the frequency band associated with said processing chain.
• FIG. 7 represents, in the form of a flowchart, a particular example of implementation of the control method according to the invention.
• the transmitter device D_TX wishes to transmit data by ambient backscattering to the receiver device D_RX, and that these data take the form, before transmission to the receiver device D_RX, of a signal comprising a sequence of high and low symbols assigned respectively to the data bits (1 or 0). It is also considered that a symbol corresponding to a 1 bit (respectively to a 0 bit) is intended to be transmitted by ambient backscattering when the processing chain is configured according to its first mode M_1 (respectively its second mode M_2).
• the switching means are configured such as those described with reference to FIG. 4 (switching means 110_1), and that the electronic equipment can be switched off or powered. is the power amplifier 103.
• the ambient signal is emitted by the emission source SO in the emission frequency band associated with the emission chain C_TX.
• control method comprises a control step (step F10) executed iteratively to generate control signals S_COM_i, i being an integer index greater than or equal to 1.
• control signals S_COM_i are transmitted to the means switching 110_1 in order to obtain, depending on the data to be transmitted (bit 1 or bit 0), an alternation between said first M_1 and second M_2 modes of the processing chain, and therefore ultimately a variation in impedance necessary for the implementation of transmission by selective variation of ambient backscattering (ie by back-modulation).
• control signals thus generated depends on the number of times the type of the symbols alternates between bit 1 and bit 0.
• alternation between the first M_1 and second M_2 modes of the processing chain, and therefore ultimately the associated variation in impedance (presented to the antenna) is effected as a function of the data to be transmitted by ambient backscattering.
• control method according to the invention is not limited to allowing communication by selective variation of the ambient backscattering between the D_TX transmitter and D_RX receiver devices.
• the control method according to the invention can therefore include other steps for controlling the switching means so as to allow such a conventional exchange of data.
• the switching means are configured such as those described with reference to FIG. 4 (switching means 110_1), and that the electronic equipment which can be switched off or supplied is the power amplifier. 103. Therefore, in the case where data must be transmitted via the C_TX transmission chain (these data therefore being intended to be radiated by the antenna 100), the MOD_CO control module can generate, during the implementation of the control method, a control signal transmitted to the switching means 110_1 so that the power amplifier 103 is supplied. Conversely, in the case where no data is to be transmitted via the C_TX transmission chain, the MOD_CO control module can generate, during the control process, a control signal transmitted to the switching means 110_1 so that the power amplifier 103 is turned off.
• FIG. 8 schematically represents an example of a data transmission scenario implemented by the transmitter device D_TX.
• switching means 110_1 switching means 110_1
• the electronic equipment which can be switched off or powered is the power amplifier 103.
• the ambient signal is emitted by the emission source SO in the emission frequency band associated with the emission chain C_TX.
• the transmitter device D_TX first of all transmits data over a long range, for example of several kilometers, between an instant T1 and an instant T2.
• the transmission of these data is carried out in a conventional manner via the transmission chain C_TX and the antenna 100 (i.e. the antenna 100 radiates radio-frequency energy supplied locally between the instants T1 and T2).
• the switching means 110_1 are configured so that the amplifier 103 is powered.
• the transmission chain is here configured according to the first mode M_l.
• the transmitter device D_TX has no data to send for a period between time T2 and an instant T3, this period being greater than a threshold. predefined. Consequently, from the instant T3, and until an instant T4 from which new data is to be transmitted over a long range, the switching means 110_1 are configured so that the amplifier 103 is turned off. In other words, and although the ambient signal is not backscattered between said instants T3 and T4, the transmission chain C_TX is here configured according to the second mode M_2. In this way, it is possible to save the energy consumed by D_TX between times T3 and T4.
• this threshold can be equal to a few microseconds or a few milliseconds, or even a second.
• the power amplifier 103 is not switched off between the instants T5 and T6 insofar as the time separating these two instants is less than said threshold. The same is true for the duration between times T7 and T8.
• the transmitter device D_TX backscattered (ie back-modulates) the ambient signal to transmit data in the form of the following message: 01000110.
• alternating between the first M_1 and second M_2 modes is controlled by the MOD_CO control module.
• the sequence of the corresponding modes is as follows: M_2, M_l, M_2, M_2, M_2, M_l, M_l, M_2.
• the alternation between time periods following which the transmitter device D_TX transmits data in a conventional manner, or else does not transmit data. , or else transmits data by ambient backscattering can be implemented according to a predetermined time scheme known to the transmitter D_TX and receiver devices D_RX.
• a predetermined time scheme known to the transmitter D_TX and receiver devices D_RX.
• Such a diagram is for example defined by a telecommunications standard.
• the example described above with reference to FIG. 8 can be implemented via a predetermined time diagram comprising four time periods:
• this second period can also include the period between times T2 and T3 if it is known in advance that no data is to be sent from the time T2),
• the alternation between time periods according to which the transmitter device D_TX transmits data in a conventional manner, or else does not transmit data, or else transmits data by ambient backscattering can be implemented. dynamically.
• signaling messages can be exchanged between the transmitting source SO and the transmitting device D_TX. These messages are configured so that once received by the transmitting device D_TX, the latter knows in which mode the processing chain in question must be configured.
• the transmitter device D_TX can transmit by backscattering, as a preamble to the data, a pattern well known to the receiver device D_RX and which allows the latter to detect the imminence of the data transmission.
• the invention also relates to a communication method implemented by the wireless communication system 10 of FIG. 1, in which the ambient signal transmitted by the transmitting source SO is backscattered by the transmitter device D_TX and received by the receiving device D_RX.
• the communication method according to the invention covers not only the case where the D_TX transmitter and D_RX receiver devices communicate with each other by ambient backscattering, but of course also the cases where these the latter exchange data with each other in a conventional manner (ie via their respective transmission / reception channels and by active radiation from their antennas).

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• 2020
  • 2020-05-04 FR FR2004387A patent/FR3109853A1/fr active Pending
• 2021
  • 2021-04-27 EP EP21731236.2A patent/EP4147366A1/de active Pending
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