Antenna Occlusion Detection via Impulse Response Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Identifying the direction of interest for signal transmission and reception in electronic devices is challenging due to frequent changes in the local environment, such as the device being placed on a surface, in a pocket, or held in a user's hand, which affects the reliability of transmission or reception directionality.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device is equipped with a transmitter, receiver, and antennas that transmit impulse signals and detect impulse response signals to determine if they are blocked, using baseline signals for comparison to assess obstruction and adjust operations accordingly, such as modifying direction-of-arrival analysis or signal processing techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beamforming is used to control signal directionality, then signal quality is improved for devices in specific directions, but the system cannot adapt when the local environment changes (device placed on surface, in pocket, or held)
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits sounding reference signals (SRS) and measures the impulse response to detect antenna occlusion conditions. Based on this feedback, the system determines whether to switch between beamforming and non-beamforming modes, enabling adaptive response to environmental changes while maintaining signal quality
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system continuously monitors environment changes to identify direction of interest, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own transmitted sounding reference signals to probe the environment and detect occlusion conditions. The antenna occlusion detection mechanism leverages the existing uplink signal transmission infrastructure, allowing the device to self-diagnose its operational state without requiring separate complex sensing systems
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for detecting obstruction of a device's antenna(s) and then changing an operation of the device. A transmission time at which an antenna of an electronic device transmitted a signal can be identified. A response signal can be detected that was received at a receiver of the electronic device subsequent to the transmission time. Based on the response signal and on the transmission time, one or more response-signal characteristics can be determined. Based on the one or more response-signal characteristics, it can be determined that the antenna or that another antenna of the electronic device is at least partly blocked from emitting or receiving signals. In response to determining that the antenna is at least partly blocked, a changed type of operation can be identified, and the changed type of operation can be performed.