Wake up signal test improves power efficiency in NB-IoT devices
Rohde & Schwarz and Goodix (CommSolid) claim to be the first to demonstrate exhaustive test functions for the NB-IoT wake up signal (NWUS). This is the 3GPP Release 15 feature for NB-IoT devices to reduce power consumption.
The wake up signal can be used to extend longer battery life without upgrading the battery or to reduce battery size and retaining the device’s service life.
Rohde & Schwarz has partnered with cellular IoT company, CommSolid by Goodix to demonstrated the effectiveness of the NB-IoT Release 15 feature wake up signal in reducing the power consumption of NB-IoT devices.
Reducing the power consumption of NB-IoT devices is critical to increase the duration of the device’s reliable active life. 3GPP Release 15 introduces the wake up signal, a special paging signal sent from an NB-IoT base station to specific NB-IoT devices, informing the devices to wake up the main receiver, in preparation for receiving paging data. The main receiver only needs to wake up when it is informed; an NB-IoT device with the wake up signal implemented remains in idle mode until informed to decode the physical downlink control channel for a paging occasion.
Test functions implemented on an R&S CMW290 functional radio communication tester outline the difference in power consumption for NB-IoT devices with and without the wake up signal technology.
Rohde & Schwarz radio communication testers have implemented the NB-IoT features introduced with 3GPP Releases 14 and 15. Firmware releases for the R&S CMW500 and R&S CMW290 introduce wake up signal support and other Release 15 features, says Rohde & Schwarz.
Matthias Weiss, managing director of CommSolid, commented: “Lowest power consumption is one of the key drivers in NB-IoT driven applications. Testing new 3GPP features early on allows our customers to leverage this advantage throughout their product design cycles”.
