Angle of Arrival Detection Using Motion Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless electronic devices face challenges in easily and safely establishing short-range wireless communications links, particularly in crowded environments where multiple devices are in range, making it difficult for users to determine the location and orientation of nearby devices.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device is equipped with wireless circuitry, including antennas configured to receive various types of signals, and control circuitry that determines the location and orientation of nearby devices by calculating the angle of arrival of signals. This information is then displayed to the user, allowing them to automatically exchange information or manually select the desired device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional antennas are used to detect nearby devices, then wireless communication capability is provided, but the location determination is ambiguous and insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces motion data from accelerometers and gyroscopes to add temporal and spatial dimensionality to the angle of arrival measurements. By combining multiple angle of arrival measurements taken at different device orientations and positions with motion sensor data, the system resolves the inherent ambiguity in single-position angle measurements, achieving complete and unambiguous location determination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are within wireless range in a crowded environment, then wireless communication coverage is improved, but device selection becomes difficult and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual display to represent the spatial locations and orientations of nearby devices, effectively 'color-coding' or visually distinguishing different devices in the environment. The display shows indicators for device locations, allowing users to easily identify and select the desired device among multiple options by viewing their relative positions and orientations.
3Measurement precision
If angle of arrival measurements are taken at multiple positions, then complete unambiguous location solution is achieved, but measurement time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback from motion sensors (accelerometers and gyroscopes) to track device movement and orientation changes during the measurement process. This motion data is fed back to the control circuitry, which uses it to correlate angle of arrival measurements with specific device positions and orientations, enabling accurate location determination without requiring manual repositioning or complex measurement sequences.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables users to efficiently and accurately determine the location and orientation of nearby devices, facilitating the establishment of secure and intended wireless communications links, even in complex environments.
Implementation Method 1
The antennas may be configured to receive IEEE 802.15.4 ultra-wideband communications signals and/or millimeter wave signals
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may use information about the location of nearby devices to make sharing with those devices more intuitive for a user. The electronic device may include control circuitry, wireless circuitry including first and second antennas, and motion sensor circuitry. The control circuitry may determine the location of a nearby electronic device by calculating the angle of arrival of signals that are transmitted by the nearby electronic device. To obtain a complete, unambiguous angle of arrival solution, the electronic device may be moved into different positions during angle of arrival measurement operations. At each position, the control circuitry may calculate a phase difference associated with the received signals. Motion sensor circuitry may gather motion data as the electronic device is moved into the different positions. The control circuitry may use the received antenna signals and the motion data to determine the complete angle of arrival solution.