Method for operating a UWB network, and device comprising a UWB network

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a UWB network (2), for example in a vehicle (1). The UWB network (2) comprises UWB multifunction chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) which can carry out UWB ranging using a UWB apparatus (6) having a communication interface (5) for an operator (7). They are also designed for UWB radar operations. The communication is temporally controlled by means of an operational sequence which is negotiated, for example, by a control device (4). The invention furthermore relates to a device, which can be designed as a vehicle, for example.

Description

[0001] Method for operating a UWB network and device comprising a UWB network

[0002] The invention relates to a method for operating a UWB network. The invention further relates to a device having a UWB network.

[0003] Access or authentication systems that determine a distance as information to verify the plausibility of authentication have become established in many areas. For example, the distance between a vehicle and an operator's smartphone used for authentication. The determination of the distance based on multiple positions, such as multiple positions on a vehicle, for the subsequent determination of a position, for example, using trilateration or N-lateration of multiple runtimes, has also gained in importance.

[0004] In the recent past, the use of ultra-wide-band communication, or UWB for short, has gained importance in determining distances.

[0005] In principle, the use of ultra-wideband radio signals, or UWB radio signals for short, is known in practice for various applications. However, commercially available UWB radio arrangements, designed as UWB transceivers, for example, have only recently become available for use in end-user products. While the fundamentals of ultra-wideband technology and the operating principle have been known for a long time, it has only recently become possible to use it on a large scale outside of special applications, not least due to more liberal regulation. Information on UWB applications can be found, for example, in the IEEE Standard for Low-Rate Wireless Networks, 802.15.4-2020, July 2020; or IEEE 802. 15-4 z-2020 - IEEE Standard for Low-Rate Wireless Networks, Amendment 1: Enhanced Ultra Wideband (UWB) Physical Layers (PHYs) and Associated Ranging Techniques, June 2020.

[0006] Ultra-wideband technology is a short-range radio communication technology based on the transmission of short signal pulses. The signal pulses cover a wide range of frequencies within a large frequency bandwidth. The width of the covered frequency ranges depends primarily on the regulatory requirements of a given territorial area. Unlike most common radio communication methods, information transmission in UWB is not based on carrier frequency modulation, but on other modulation methods, such as on-off keying, pulse amplitude modulation, or pulse position modulation.

[0007] UWB communication has the fundamental advantage that, due to the transmission of pulses, distance can be determined using a time-of-flight based approach. Due to such approaches, reference is often made to the term time-of-flight methods. For example, the distance between a UWB antenna of a device, for example a motor vehicle, and a portable device prepared for UWB communication, for example a mobile UWB device, in particular a number of smartphones available on the date of filing, can be determined with comparatively high accuracy. This can be achieved, for example, by sending a UWB signal from the UWB antenna to the UWB device, a UWB transceiver of the portable UWB device answering this signal, and a central control unit coupled to the UWB antenna of the UWB radio arrangements on the device evaluating the detected response signal.Experience has shown that, under favorable conditions, a range determination accuracy of the order of a few centimeters can be achieved. The described approach for UWB-based communication and range determination based on time-of-flight calculation is already available as a feature implemented in UWB radio systems and is referred to there as UWB ranging functionality.

[0008] In practice, it is observed that devices, such as vehicles, that use UWB ranging functionality usually have a plurality of UWB transceivers, each positioned at a distance from each other on the device.

[0009] In order to obtain ranging data for several or all of the UWB transceivers, these must carry out appropriate ranging communication with the UWB device, in particular a portable UWB device such as a smartphone. Since the UWB device can only communicate with one communication partner at a time, it is necessary to coordinate the ranging communication of the majority of UWB transceivers. In practice, a solution has been found to coordinate UWB ranging communication by agreeing on a sequence of operations between the UWB transceivers involved in the UWB network, which is preferably synchronized between the UWB transceivers involved and the UWB device as the communication partner. One of the advantages of synchronization on the UWB device side is that the energy-intensive UWB reception is limited in time.This sequence includes specifying the chronological order of the ranging communication for the participating UWB transceivers, as well as reserving time slots for transmitting data, which can be referred to as PrePoll, Poll, Final, and / or Final Data, for example. The sequence therefore includes ranging slots and data slots, with the ranging slots within the chronological sequence representing the allocation of the UWB transceiver intended for communication with the UWB device at a specific time during the sequence. The sequence is referred to as a ranging round and is intended to be repeated several times until a so-called ranging block is completely filled.There can be certain specifications for the ratio of ranging round to ranging block, for example the specification that a ranging block lasts 96 milliseconds and is made up of an integer number of ranging rounds, which in turn are made up of an integer number of slots, ranging slots and data slots. The individual ranging slots can then be assigned to the UWB transceivers, thereby determining the order and chronological sequence of the individual UWB ranging communication processes in a network of UWB transceivers. The coordination of UWB ranging in so-called ranging rounds is known from practice, as can be seen, for example, from WO 2022 / 178399 A1.

[0010] Due to its properties, UWB is also suitable for use in radar applications. UWB radio signals are emitted and, after hitting an object, are reflected by the object as a UWB radar response. The UWB radar response can then be evaluated. Two basic evaluation principles can be used for the evaluation: the evaluation of the time elapsed between the transmission of the UWB radio signal and the receipt of the UWB radar response, and the Doppler effect. The use of UWB radar, for example, has the advantage that no communication with a communication partner is required, as the operating principle is based on the reflection of radio waves. A further advantage is the ability to infer speeds by using the Doppler effect. This advantage has been used in applications to detect the presence of living beings in a vehicle.

[0011] On the filing date, UWB chips were commercially available that had both UWB ranging functionality and UWB radar functionality. Such UWB chips utilize the advantage that the same radio transceiver and the same antenna can be used for both functionalities, thereby keeping the space requirement and cost of the UWB chip comparatively low. A UWB chip that combines the two functionalities of UWB ranging functionality and UWB radar functionality is referred to below as a UWB multifunction chip. In practice, UWB radar is sometimes also referred to under the term UWB sensing.

[0012] It is to be expected that devices, for example vehicles, for which the interaction of UWB ranging functionality and UWB radar functionality is relevant, usually have a plurality of UWB multi-function chips, each of which is positioned at a distance from one another on the device.

[0013] The design of the UWB multifunction chip described above, particularly the use of the same radio transceiver and the same antenna, requires that the timing of radar signal transmission be coordinated. The use of multiple multifunction chips in a UWB network and the use of both UWB ranging and UWB radar also requires a coordinated sequence of individual transmission and reception operations within the network for the most successful data acquisition possible. Providing such coordination is the task underlying this development.

[0014] The problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 1. The problem is further solved by a device having the features of claim 6.

[0015] A method for operating a UWB network is provided.

[0016] The UWB network comprises at least two UWB multifunction chips arranged at a distance from one another on a device. The UWB multifunction chips are coupled to one another; for example, a particularly star-shaped wired coupling to a central control device of the device is possible, which can be responsible, for example, for controlling the UWB multifunction chips for UWB ranging communication and for carrying out radar operation.

[0017] Each of the at least two spaced-apart UWB multifunction chips has both UWB ranging functionality and UWB radar functionality. These can, in particular, be commercially available UWB chips that are configured for both UWB ranging functionality and UWB radar functionality, using the same UWB transceiver and the same antenna for both functionalities.

[0018] Operating the UWB network comprises carrying out bidirectional UWB ranging communication between each of the at least two spaced-apart UWB multifunction chips and a UWB device prepared for UWB communication. Operating the UWB network further comprises carrying out a UWB radar operation from within the UWB network, i.e., at least one of the UWB multifunction chips of the UWB network carries out a radar operation using the radar functionality in addition to the UWB ranging communication, i.e., emits a radar signal and receives the radar response for subsequent evaluation. The radar response can then be evaluated, for example, by a central control unit of the device to which the UWB multifunction chips are coupled; just like the localization of the UWB device from the UWB ranging communications.

[0019] The sequence of the respective UWB ranging communications of the at least two spaced-apart UWB multifunction chips with the UWB device and the UWB radar operation is coordinated. This coordination is based on a previously agreed-upon timing sequence, which is known between the UWB network and the UWB device and is organized as a ranging block. The duration of a ranging block can be, for example, 96 ms or a multiple of 96 ms, where ms is the abbreviation for "milliseconds."

[0020] Within the Ranging Block, a Ranging round is completed once or multiple times.

[0021] The ranging pass is divided into a number of slots, namely ranging slots and data slots. PrePoll and FinalData are "data slots". In PrePoll, for example, parameters important for ranging are transmitted from the mobile UWB device, ID device (fob or smartphone), such as session ID and / or indices for cryptography. With FinalData, the UWB device, ID device (fob or smartphone), transmits data, such as all received timestamps, from the respective UWB multi-function chips, i.e. vehicle satellites, back to the vehicle so that two-way ranging calculations can take place. Each of the at least two UWB multi-function chips is exclusively assigned at least one ranging slot as a UWB ranging slot.This means that a ranging slot is reserved for each of the UWB multifunction chips in the sequence, during which the respective UWB multifunction chip carries out a complete ranging communication, i.e. sending a UWB ranging signal and receiving the UWB ranging response, with the UWB device.

[0022] This procedure ensures that at the end of a ranging run, runtime information is available for each UWB multi-function chip, which can then be used, for example in the central control unit, to determine the distance or position by means of bilateration, trilateration, N-lateration, depending on the number of UWB multi-function chips present.

[0023] According to the invention, at least one of the UWB ranging slots exclusively assigned to a UWB multi-function chip is designed as a multi-operation slot. This is achieved in that it has a time width within the sequence that is greater than the time duration required for UWB ranging communication, i.e. greater than a time width of 0.5 ms or 1 ms or 2 ms. For example, a time width of the UWB ranging slots exclusively assigned to a UWB multi-function chip can be 1 ms or 2 ms or 4 ms or 6 ms or 8 ms. It is particularly preferred that all ranging slots of a ranging pass have the same time width.

[0024] At least one of the at least two UWB multi-function chips carries out a UWB radar operation in the multi-operation slot, at a time separate from the UWB ranging communication carried out in this multi-operation slot. The UWB radar operation is preferably carried out after the UWB ranging communication. According to an advantageous development, it can be provided that each of the at least two UWB multi-function chips is exclusively assigned exactly one ranging slot as a UWB ranging slot. This ensures that, on the one hand, distance data is available for each of the existing UWB multi-function chips and, on the other hand, the total time required for a ranging run is minimized.

[0025] In a preferred development, it can be provided that each of the UWB ranging slots exclusively assigned to a UWB multi-function chip is designed as a multi-operation slot. For this purpose, each of the UWB ranging slots exclusively assigned to a UWB multi-function chip has a temporal width in the sequence that is greater than the temporal width required for UWB ranging communication, that is to say: greater than a temporal width of 0.5 ms or 1 ms or 2 ms. For example, a temporal width of the UWB ranging slots exclusively assigned to a UWB multi-function chip can be 1 ms or 2 ms or 4 ms or 6 ms or 8 ms.

[0026] At least one, preferably each, of the at least two UWB multi-function chips carries out a UWB radar operation in several or all multi-operation slots, temporally separated from the UWB ranging communication carried out in a respective multi-operation slot. This means that within the multi-operation slot, in addition to a complete UWB ranging communication, comprising sending a UWB ranging message and waiting to receive the response to the UWB ranging message, which is also in the form of a UWB signal and which, if successful, results in the actual reception of this message, a radar operation is carried out. This radar operation can, for example, be carried out by the same UWB multi-function chip. Alternatively or additionally, the radar operation can be carried out by one or more or all of the other UWB multi-function chips in the UWB network.This approach, according to which UWB ranging communication and radar operation are executed sequentially, ensures on the equipment side, for example on the vehicle side, that UWB ranging communication and radar communication are enabled for the individual UWB multifunction chip, despite the shared use of the transceiver and antenna for both functions. Regarding the entire UWB multifunction chip, it is ensured that unforeseeable radio interference during UWB ranging communication caused by radar signals and / or interference with the radar signals caused by UWB communication is largely avoided.The functionality of the counterpart device in this approach, i.e. the UWB device with which the UWB ranging communication takes place, which could be a UWB-capable smartphone, for example, is not impaired by the specification of the comparatively long temporal slot width, since the UWB device is not involved in the acquisition of radar data and has no knowledge of this, nor does it need to. The development presented here and its further developments take advantage of this fact, since by adapting the operating mode on the device side, it is relatively easy, yet very flexible and effective, to obtain both localization data via UWB ranging communication with the counterpart device and radar data in the vicinity of the individual UWB multifunction chips.

[0027] Within a slot, the UWB radar operation preferably occurs after the UWB ranging communication has been performed. This means that at the beginning of a slot, the UWB ranging communication takes place first, followed by the radar operation. This approach minimizes, for a given UWB multifunction chip, any impairments to the UWB ranging communication caused by UWB radar response signals, which are inherently less predictable.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, each slot of the sequence is designed as a multi-operation slot. At least one of the at least two UWB multi-function chips, preferably all UWB multi-function chips, performs a UWB radar operation in the respective second half of one or more or every second multi-operation slot or every multi-operation slot.

[0029] In a preferred development of the method, the time width of each slot is at least 1 ms or 2 ms or 4 ms or 6 ms or 8 ms. There is sufficient time in the stated time periods to carry out both a UWB ranging operation and a UWB radar operation within a slot. With intervals of the stated magnitude, the interval between radar data recorded one after the other remains sufficiently small at no more than 8 ms, i.e. the temporal resolution is sufficiently good to be able to resolve even demanding detection tasks, for example in gesture detection, for which, in the developers' experience, radar detections spaced 16 ms already have too coarse a resolution. Interior monitoring is also possible with greater spacing, for example on the order of 25 ms or 50 ms, for example 32 ms or 64 ms.

[0030] Particularly preferably, the sequence is structured in such a way that the sequence is 96 ms or an integer multiple of the sequence 96 ms, and that in addition the ranging block is 96 ms or an integer multiple of 96 ms. For a given number of UWB multi-function chips in the UWB network, this is possible under the proviso that the slot duration is 1 ms or an integer multiple of 1 ms or 2 ms or an integer multiple of 2 ms, and that after assigning exactly one slot to each UWB multi-function chip in the UWB network, the sequence can be filled with free ranging slots and / or with empty slots for which no use is intended, and / or with data slots.

[0031] In addition to the previous considerations, it can be provided that the ranging round, in addition to the UWB ranging slots exclusively assigned to each of the at least two UWB multi-function chips, has at least one free ranging slot that is not assigned to a UWB multi-function chip as a UWB ranging slot. This means that, contrary to the previously explained assignments of ranging slots to UWB multi-function chips for UWB ranging communication, the structure of the sequence provides for at least one ranging slot that reserves a predetermined period of time within the ranging round sequence, during which no UWB ranging communication takes place due to this ranging slot being kept free. In particular, it can be provided that during the free ranging slot one of the UWB multi-function chips or several of the UWB multi-function chips or all of the UWB multi-function chips carry out a radar operation.Reserving the reserved ranging slot has the advantage of avoiding any interference with the UWB ranging communication caused by radar signals. Furthermore, it allows all UWB multifunction chips to perform radar operations, if desired, since none of the UWB multifunction chips is performing UWB ranging communication at the time the reserved ranging slot is used. The result is improved data density and data quality of the received radar responses.

[0032] Another idea of ​​the invention concerns a

[0033] Device comprising: - A UWB network is present, wherein the UWB network comprises a number of at least two spaced apart UWB

[0034] multifunctional chips. For example, the device may be a vehicle having a number of, for example, six to eight, preferably seven, UWB multifunctional chips arranged at various positions of the vehicle.

[0035] At least one, preferably each, of the at least two spaced-apart UWB multifunction chips of the UWB network has both UWB ranging functionality and UWB radar functionality. UWB multifunction chips that have both UWB ranging functionality and UWB radar functionality are commercially available.

[0036] - The device includes a control device coupled to each of the UWB multifunction chips. For example, if the device is a vehicle, the control device may be the central control unit to which each of the UWB multifunction chips is coupled, so that the control device is capable of coordinated control of the entirety of the UWB multifunction chips. Alternatively, it may also be provided that one of the UWB multifunction chips, which is directly or indirectly coupled to all the other UWB multifunction chips and which has a control device such as a microcontroller, assumes the function of the control device.It is also conceivable for each UWB multifunction chip to have its own control device, such as a microcontroller, which, with knowledge of the respective sequence, completely or partially controls the respective UWB multifunction chip. Coordination of the session, i.e., in particular, initiating a time-controlled sequence with UWB ranging communication and UWB radar operation, is preferably carried out via a control unit in the vehicle, for example, the central vehicle control unit. Alternatively, one of the UWB multifunction chips can also perform the coordination. After coordination, each UWB multifunction chip acts autonomously according to the agreed sequence.

[0037] The control device is configured, in particular through appropriate programming, to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. The control device preferably has, in particular, the capability to initiate communication with a UWB device, for example with a smartphone prepared for UWB communication, as well as to coordinate the arrangement of a ranging block and then to distribute this ranging block to the participating UWB multifunction chips. As in the entire present text, the UWB device is not considered to be a component of the UWB network.

[0038] To facilitate communication with a UWB device, the device preferably has a communication interface coupled to the control device for radio communication with the mobile UWB device. The combination interface can be, for example, a Bluetooth® interface. The control device is preferably designed and configured to negotiate a ranging block with the mobile UWB device or to specify a ranging block for the mobile UWB device. The negotiation of the ranging block can be carried out, for example, via Bluetooth® communication.

[0039] Preferably, the device is designed to

[0040] Control device to negotiate the ranging block with the mobile UWB device with one or more ranging passes, where

[0041] - each ranging pass has a number of ranging slots that is at least equal to or exactly equal to the number N of UWB multifunction chips in the UWB network, and wherein

[0042] - the length of one, preferably each, ranging slot is at least 2 ms or at least 4 ms.

[0043] The device is in particular a vehicle, preferably an automobile.

[0044] Further details, features and advantages of the method according to the invention and its further developments emerge from the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.

[0045] It is understood that the features mentioned above and explained below can be used not only in the combination specified, but also in other combinations or on their own. They show:

[0046] Fig. 1: An exemplary embodiment of a device in the form of an automobile;

[0047] Fig. 2: schematic representation of a sequence of operations as a ranging block to explain an embodiment of a method.

[0048] In Fig. 1, an embodiment of a device 1 in the form of a motor vehicle is shown.

[0049] The motor vehicle 1 has a UWB network 2. The UWB network 2 consists of a number of, in the example shown, seven UWB multifunction chips 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g. The seven UWB multifunction chips are arranged spaced apart from one another on the vehicle. Each of the seven UWB multifunction chips 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g has both a UWB ranging functionality and a UWB radar functionality. The chip is a unit provided for this purpose, for example a commercially available unit, which has all the elements required for the processes mentioned, in particular a corresponding UWB transceiver device, a UWB antenna and the control elements required for UWB ranging and UWB radar functionality, for example in the form of an appropriately programmed microcontroller.

[0050] Furthermore, a control device 4 designed as a central vehicle controller is arranged on the vehicle, to which each of the UWB multifunction chips is coupled, which itself is not regarded as a component of the UWB network. The control device 4 is coupled to a communication interface 5 arranged on the vehicle 1, which is designed, for example, as a Bluetooth® interface and which can communicate with a mobile UWB device 6 carried by an operator 7. The mobile UWB device 6 is designed, for example, as a smartphone, which has, among other things, a Bluetooth® interface and a UWB interface, as is not unusual in practice on the priority date.The control device 4 is designed and configured to communicate with the mobile UWB device 6 via the Bluetooth® interface and to negotiate a ranging block, whereby this negotiation can also be carried out via alternative paths, for example via UWB communication.

[0051] Fig. 2 illustrates a method with which a UWB network with at least two UWB multifunction chips spaced apart from one another can be operated. In the example in Fig. 2, there are seven UWB multifunction chips, each of which has a UWB ranging functionality as well as a UWB radar functionality. Fig. 2 can therefore be viewed as an illustration of a method for operating a UWB network as shown in Fig. 1. The UWB ranging functionality is carried out sequentially and alternately by the UWB multifunction chips. The execution is defined in a sequence that is synchronized between the UWB multifunction chips and a UWB device set up for UWB communication, e.g. a smartphone of an operator, i.e. is known to all of the devices involved. The sequence is divided into ranging slots and data slots. In the sequence shown in Fig.2 the data slots Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot 10, Slot 11 and Slot 12 are available.

[0052] Furthermore, there are seven ranging slots, namely ranging slots 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, each of which is assigned to one of the seven UWB multi-function chips, so that each of the seven UWB multi-function chips is uniquely and exclusively assigned to one ranging slot as a UWB ranging slot. The assignment is shown in Fig. 2 in the nomenclature, which, for example, for the first UWB multifunction chip is "UWB 1" in the assignment to "Ranging Slot 3", for the second UWB multifunction chip is "UWB 2" in the assignment to "Ranging Slot 4", etc. Each of the seven UWB multifunction chips of the UWB network carries out a complete UWB ranging communication within its exclusively assigned UWB ranging slot, i.e., sending a UWB signal and awaiting the UWB signal response from the operator's UWB device, or possibly awaiting it.

[0053] In this example, the time width of a ranging slot is 4 ms. The number of slots results in a sequence length of 48 ms.

[0054] All slots, i.e. both the slots intended for data transport and empty slots 1, 2, 10, 11 and 12 as well as the slots assigned exclusively to a UWB multi-function chip as UWB ranging slots, are designed as multi-operation slots in that they have a temporal width in the sequence that is greater than the temporal width required for UWB ranging communication.

[0055] A UWB radar operation is executed in the second half of every second slot. In particular, a UWB radar operation is also executed in every second slot assigned for UWB ranging, separated in time from the UWB ranging communication executed in this multi-operation slot. Preferably, the UWB radar operation is executed after the UWB ranging communication. In the example shown, each of the UWB multi-function chips executes a radar operation in every second slot, which is symbolized by "RO 1-7".

[0056] As a result, two radar operations of 8 ms follow one another, each measured from the start of an operation to the start of an operation, which also makes complex recognition tasks possible, for example the recognition of quickly executed control gestures, for which a temporal resolution of more than 8 ms, for example 12 ms or 16 ms, is often no longer reliably sufficient.

[0057] In a Ranging Block, a Ranging Round is completed once or multiple times.

[0058] The sequence shown fulfills after two

[0059] Repetition with a duration of 96 ms is a length requirement for a ranging block; the sequence itself is a ranging pass, also called a ranging round.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for operating a UWB network (2), wherein the UWB network (2) comprises a number of at least two UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) spaced apart from one another, wherein at least one, preferably each, of the at least two UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) spaced apart from one another has both a UWB ranging functionality and a UWB radar functionality, wherein the operation of the UWB network (2) comprises both a bidirectional UWB ranging communication of each of the at least two UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) spaced apart from one another with a UWB device (6) and a UWB radar operation wherein both the UWB ranging communications of the at least two spaced-apart UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) with the UWB device (6) and the UWB radar operation are time-controlled in a sequence,which is preferably synchronized between the UWB network and the UWB device, and which is preferably organized as a ranging block, wherein a ranging round is preferably completed once or multiple times in a ranging block, wherein the ranging round is divided into a number of slots, ranging slots and data slots, wherein each of the at least two UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) is exclusively assigned at least one ranging slot as a UWB ranging slot, wherein each of the at least two UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) executes a complete UWB ranging communication within the at least one UWB ranging slot exclusively assigned to it, wherein at least one of the UWB ranging slots exclusively assigned to a UWB multi-function chip (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) is designed as a multi-operation slot in that it has a temporal width in the sequence that is greater than the temporal width required for a UWB ranging communication, wherein at least one of the at least two UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) executes a UWB radar operation in the multi-operation slot at a time separate from the UWB ranging communication executed in this multi-operation slot, preferably executes the UWB radar operation after the UWB ranging communication.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) is exclusively assigned exactly one ranging slot as a UWB ranging slot.

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of the UWB ranging slots exclusively assigned to a UWB multi-function chip (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) is designed as a multi-operation slot in that it has a temporal width in the sequence that is greater than the temporal width required for a UWB ranging communication, wherein at least one, preferably each, of the at least two UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) in several, or every second of the multi-operation slots, or all multi-operation slots temporally separated from the UWB ranging communication carried out in a respective multi-operation slot carries out the UWB radar operation after carrying out the UWB ranging communication, preferably within a slot.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the time width of each slot is at least 1 ms or 2 ms or 4 ms or 6 ms or 8 ms.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each slot of the sequence is designed as a multi-operation slot in that it has a time width in the sequence which is greater than the time width required for a UWB ranging communication, wherein at least one of the at least two UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g), preferably all UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g), carries out a UWB radar operation in the respective second half of every second or every multi-operation slot.

6. Facility (1) , comprising - a UWB network (2), wherein the UWB network (2) comprises a number of at least two spaced-apart UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g), wherein each of the at least two spaced-apart UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) has both a UWB ranging functionality and a UWB radar functionality, - a control device (4) coupled to each of the UWB multifunction chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g), wherein the control device (4) is configured to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

7. Device (1) according to claim 6, comprising a Control device (4) coupled communication interface (5) for radio communication with a mobile UWB device (6), wherein the control device (4) is designed and configured to negotiate a ranging block with the mobile UWB device (6).

8. Device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the control device (4) is arranged to negotiate the ranging block with the mobile UWB device (6) with one or more ranging passes, wherein - each ranging pass has a number of ranging slots which corresponds at least to or exactly to the number N of UWB multi-function chips (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) in the UWB network (2), and wherein - the length of one, preferably each, ranging slot is at least 2 ms or 4 ms.

9. Device (1) according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the device (1) is a vehicle, preferably an automobile.

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