Power efficient communications
A method, system, and device provide power-efficient communications within the context of available power. Transmission and receipt data rates are scalable in accordance with output power available from a power source. Data is transmitted at a data rate determined, at least in part, by the available output power.
1. A wireless transmitting system, comprising:
an energy harvesting electrical power source, capable of producing an available output power for an indefinite period of time and having a defined peak power characteristic; and
a power efficient transmitter configured in operation to enable a ratio of peak-to-average power consumption of the available output power of the energy harvesting power source to be minimized and to enable energy consumption of the available output power of the energy harvesting power source to be maximized per unit time, the transmitter capable of a data transmission rate;
wherein the data transmission rate is determined, at least in part, by the available output power.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data transmission rate is determined such that a transmission range of the transmitter is constant as the available output power varies.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises:
an electrical power monitoring circuit coupled to the transmitter and operable to monitor a power level of the available output power supplied to the transmitter by the electrical power source.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises:
a controller coupled to the transmitter that controls the transmitter to keep the power drawn by the transmitter from the electrical power source less than the available output power.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the system further comprises:
a power efficient receiver configured in operation to enable the ratio of peak-to-average power consumption of the available output power of the energy harvesting power source to be minimized and to enable energy consumption of the available output power of the energy harvesting power source to be maximized per unit time, the receiver operable to receive data at a data reception rate determined, at least in part, by the output power available to the receiver from the electrical power source, wherein the receiver is coupled to the controller and the controller controls the receiver to keep the power drawn by the receiver from the electrical power source less than the available output power.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises:
a power efficient receiver configured in operation to enable the ratio of peak-to-average power consumption of the available output power of the energy harvesting power source to be minimized and to enable energy consumption of the available output power of the energy harvesting power source to be maximized per unit time, the receiver operable to receive data at a data reception rate determined, at least in part, by the output power available to the receiver from the electrical power source.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein a range between the transmitter and the receiver is determined from the data transmission rate of the transmitter.