Antenna Radiation Characterization for Vehicle Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for locating mobile devices in enclosed spaces, such as vehicles, are inefficient due to the need for complex calibration and additional sensors or RFID tags, and suffer from inaccurate position determination and energy consumption issues with existing technologies like ultrasonic pens and electromagnetic wave-based methods.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple antenna units in a predefined space that can operate in both sending and receiving modes, varying their radiation characteristics to capture and characterize transmission properties, allowing for improved localization of mobile devices without additional test transmitters and sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors or RFID tags are used for locating mobile devices, then position determination capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna units are designed to perform multiple functions: they serve both as communication antennas for mobile devices and as localization sensors. By varying the radiation characteristics of these existing antenna units, the system can determine positions of mobile devices without requiring additional dedicated sensors or RFID tags, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna units characterize the transmission properties of the enclosed space themselves by exchanging signals and varying their radiation characteristics. This self-characterization capability eliminates the need for external calibration equipment or additional sensing components, allowing the system to achieve accurate position determination using only its existing antenna units
2Reliability
If complex calibration procedures are performed, then transmission quality is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs calibration by having antenna units vary their radiation characteristics and capture transmission properties in advance. This preliminary characterization of the enclosed space creates a database of transmission properties that can be reused for multiple localization operations, eliminating the need for repeated complex calibration procedures and reducing time consumption while maintaining transmission quality
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna units periodically vary their radiation characteristics through different beamforming patterns to systematically explore and characterize the transmission properties of the enclosed space. This periodic variation allows comprehensive calibration to be completed in a structured manner, achieving high transmission quality without excessive time consumption
3Measurement precision
If multiple radiation characteristics are varied, then localization accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system varies radiation characteristics partially by selecting specific beamforming patterns relevant to the enclosed space geometry and mobile device positions. Rather than exhaustively testing all possible radiation characteristics, the system uses a subset that provides sufficient localization accuracy, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining measurement precision
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 approach simplifies the calibration process, enhances position finding accuracy, and optimizes transmission quality within the vehicle interior by characterizing antenna units based on their transmission properties, enabling effective localization and occupancy detection.
Implementation Method 1
antenna units (26a, 26b) which are designed to provide coverage with radio services
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, a method and a computer program for characterizing antenna units in a predefined space. The antenna units provide coverage with radio services for a mobile transceiver in the space. An antenna unit is operated in two modes of operation, sending and receiving. At least one first antenna unit has multiple radiation characteristics. The method includes operating the first antenna unit in a first mode of operation and operating a second antenna unit in the second mode of operation and varying the radiation characteristics of the first antenna unit and capturing information about transmission properties between the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit for the radiation characteristics. The method also includes characterizing the antenna units based on the information about the transmission properties.