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Apple patents method to wake phone radio faster using low-power signals

Apple describes a way for phones to keep their main radio chip asleep while a tiny, low-power receiver listens for specific wake-up signals. When a wake-up is needed, the phone calculates exactly how many synchronization signals to read to quickly adjust the main radio's volume and timing before it fully turns on.

Why it mattersThis technical improvement helps phones save battery by keeping the main radio off longer, though the specific math involved is unlikely to be noticeable to everyday users.

In the filing’s own words

Systems and methods for main radio (MR) waking-up procedures for low-power wake-up receiver (LP-WUS) user equipment (UE) are discussed. The UE uses a low-power receiver (LR) to monitor for LP-WUSs while an MR of the UE is in a sleep state. In some cases, a UE identifies that a condition for waking the MR from the sleep state has occurred; determines a number of synchronization signal block (SSB) samples to use to perform one or more of automatic gain control (AGC) settling and time/frequency tracking on the MR during an MR waking-up procedure for waking the MR based on the condition; and wakes the MR in response to identifying that the condition for waking the MR from the sleep state has occurred, wherein the waking comprises performing the one or more of the AGC settling and the time/frequency tracking on the MR using the number of SSB samples.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method of a user equipment (UE) using a low-power receiver (LR) to monitor for low-power wake-up signals (LP-WUSs) while a main radio (MR) of the UE is in a sleep state, comprising: determining a number of synchronization signal block (SSB) samples of SSBs sent by a base station to use to perform one or more of automatic gain control (AGC) settling and time/frequency tracking on the MR during an MR waking-up procedure for waking the MR from the sleep state based on a low-power synchronization signal (LP-SS) periodicity of LP-SSs sent by the base station and used for timing tracking by the LR; identifying that a condition for waking the MR has occurred; and waking the MR in response to identifying that the condition for waking the MR has occurred, wherein the waking comprises performing the one or more of the AGC settling and the time/frequency tracking on the MR using the number of SSB samples during the MR waking-up procedure.

Facts

Company
Apple (APPLE INC.)
Official title
MAIN RADIO WAKING-UP PROCEDURES FOR LOW-POWER WAKE-UP RECEIVER USER EQUIPMENT
Publication number
US20260292693A1
Application number
19437516
Filed
Dec 31, 2025
Published
Sep 24, 2026
Inventors
7
Claims
20

Classified under

H04W 52/0235 Electricity & electronicsH04L 5/0048 Electricity & electronicsH04W 52/52 Electricity & electronicsH04W 56/001 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.