IP Library Granted Patent US 8,151,127
Granted Patent B2
US 8,151,127 · App. 12/694,777 · Granted Apr 3, 2012

System for conserving battery life in a battery operated device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,151,127
App. No.
12/694,777
Granted
Apr 3, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A battery operated device includes a receiver for receiving a transmission that includes a postamble. A sensor, in a tire, measures a parameter of the tire and outputs data indicative of the parameter. A microprocessor is coupled to the receiver and the sensor. The microprocessor is configured to periodically partially awaken to determine whether the transmission is likely a forward link packet (FLP) by examining the postamble, and to transmit the data in a reverse link packet (RLP) in response to confirming that the transmission is a FLP.

Claims (23)

1. A battery operated device comprising:

a receiver for receiving a transmission that includes a postamble; and

a sensor, in a tire, that measures a parameter of the tire and outputs data indicative of the parameter; and a microprocessor coupled to the receiver and the sensor, configured to periodically partially awaken to determine whether the transmission is likely a forward link packet (FLP) by examining the postamble, and to transmit the data in a reverse link packet (RLP) in response to confirming that the transmission is a FLP.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the postamble is Manchester encoded.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the postamble includes a predetermined number of transitions.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor determines whether the transmission is likely a FLP by determining if the transmission includes a predetermined number of transitions.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the battery operated device includes a transmitter.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the parameter is temperature.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the parameter is air pressure.

8. A battery operated device comprising:

a receiver for receiving a transmission that includes a postamble; and

a microprocessor coupled to the receiver, the microprocessor periodically partially awakening to determine whether the transmission is likely a forward link packet (FLP) by examining the postamble and to respond only to a FLP having a specific identification number associated with the device.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the postamble is Manchester encoded.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the postamble includes a predetermined number of transitions.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein the microprocessor determines whether the transmission is likely a FLP by determining if the transmission includes a predetermined number of transitions.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein the battery operated device includes a transmitter.

13. A battery operated device comprising:

a receiver for receiving a transmission that includes a postamble;

a transmitter having a phased locked loop (PLL); and

a microprocessor coupled to the receiver, the microprocessor periodically partially awakening to determine whether the transmission is likely a forward link packet (FLP) by first examining a beginning portion of the transmission and, if that beginning portion indicates that the transmission appears to be a valid FLP, then turning on the PLL, and afterward reading the rest of the transmission to determine whether the FLP is valid.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the postamble is Manchester encoded.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the postamble includes a predetermined number of transitions.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the microprocessor determines whether the transmission is likely a FLP by determining if the transmission includes a predetermined number of transitions.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2010
From: HARDMAN, GORDON E.; HARDMAN, MOLLY A.; COOMBS, DAVID C.; GRUSH, RONALD C.; FLOYD, BRETT W.; PYNE, JOHN W.; PRZYGOCKI, DAVID A.; WILSON, PAUL B.; LOUDIN, PHILIP B.
To: BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, INC.
Reel/Frame 024130/0362 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 24, 2010
From: BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, INC.
To: BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICAN TIRE, LLC
Reel/Frame 024130/0585 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 24, 2010
From: BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICAN TIRE, LLC
To: BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICAN TIRE, LLC
Reel/Frame 024130/0728 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 24, 2010
From: BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICAN TIRE, LLC
To: BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 024130/0900 →