Antenna Pair Selection for Fast Accurate Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing positioning devices take a long time to calculate highly accurate distance measurements due to the need to determine roundtrip phase shifts at multiple frequencies using multiple antennas, which is time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A positioning device with multiple antennas selects a pair of antenna elements based on the standard deviation of phase shifts, ensuring the selected pair has a quality higher than a predetermined level, and uses this pair for ToA-based distance measurement, thereby reducing the impact of multi-path interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple antennas are used to calculate roundtrip phase shifts at multiple frequencies, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna array into multiple pairs of antenna elements. Instead of using all antennas simultaneously for calculation, the system divides them into pairs (e.g., first pair, second pair, third pair) and processes each pair separately. This segmentation allows the system to maintain measurement precision by using multiple antennas while reducing calculation time by processing smaller subsets in parallel or sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary selection of antenna pairs based on phase shift quality metrics before the actual distance measurement calculation. By pre-evaluating which antenna pairs provide the highest quality phase shift measurements (using criteria such as standard deviation of phase shifts), the system prepares optimal measurement paths in advance, avoiding the need to process all possible antenna combinations during the measurement phase.
2Measurement precision
If antenna elements with high phase shift quality are selected, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the evaluation parameter from raw phase shift values to statistical metrics such as standard deviation of phase shifts across multiple frequencies. By using these derived parameters, the system can objectively quantify phase shift quality and automatically select optimal antenna pairs. This parameter transformation simplifies the selection process while improving measurement precision, as the statistical metrics provide a clear criterion for comparison.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-evaluation of antenna pair quality by automatically calculating phase shift metrics and selecting optimal pairs without external intervention. The antenna selection process is self-service in nature, where the positioning device itself evaluates its own antenna elements and determines which pairs provide the best measurement quality, reducing the need for external calibration or manual configuration.
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
Enables quick and accurate distance measurement by selecting antenna elements with minimal multi-path interference, allowing for rapid calculation of highly accurate distance and angle measurements.
Implementation Method 1
receives, using two antennas, composite waves comprised of direct-path reflected waves (or transmitted signals that are reflected by a reflector and directly return to the antennas) and multi-path reflected waves
Implementation Method 2
the distance to the target object is calculated based on the relationship between: the differences between the multiple transmitting frequencies; and the roundtrip phase shifts between transmitted signals and received signals per frequency
Data Source
AI summary
A positioning device includes: an antenna part with N antenna elements forming a plurality of pairs of antenna elements, N being an integer greater than or equal to three; a selection part configured to select a pair of antenna elements whose phase shift quality is higher than or equal to a predetermined level, based on a phase shift observed between phases of a signal received by respective antenna elements in a pair when each of the plurality of pairs receives the signal from a positioning target device; and a distance measurement part configured to measure a distance between the positioning target device and the antenna part based on phases of signals communicated between the positioning target device and one antenna element included in the pair selected by the selection part.