Automatic Door with mmW Radar and IMU for Multi-Target Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic door systems rely on limited sensing capabilities, such as microwave radar and infrared sensors, which struggle to detect and differentiate multiple targets, especially in varying environmental conditions, leading to potential safety issues and inefficiencies in door control.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a millimeter wave (mmW) radar sensor system with inertial measurement units (IMUs) and a door control unit that combines data to track targets and control the door, providing enhanced detection, classification, and tracking capabilities in various environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional microwave radar and infrared sensors are used, then the door system can detect basic motion and presence, but the system cannot accurately differentiate multiple targets or detect targets in varying environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional microwave radar to millimeter wave radar, changing the operating frequency parameter to achieve higher resolution and better target differentiation capability. This parameter change enables the system to distinguish multiple targets more accurately while maintaining performance across varying environmental conditions.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are added to enhance sensing capability, then target detection and differentiation improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The millimeter wave radar sensor performs multiple functions simultaneously: it detects presence, determines motion direction, tracks multiple targets, and provides velocity information. This multi-functionality enhances door control reliability without requiring multiple separate sensor systems, thereby avoiding increased complexity.
3Measurement precision
If conventional sensors are used, then the system structure remains simple, but the system cannot provide high-resolution position and velocity information for enhanced safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical sensing approaches with millimeter wave radar technology, which provides non-contact, high-resolution measurement of position and velocity. This substitution achieves superior measurement precision while maintaining system simplicity through the use of electromagnetic field-based detection rather than complex mechanical sensor arrays.
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
The mmW radar sensor system enables more accurate and reliable detection and tracking of multiple targets, improving door control by providing high-resolution position and velocity information, immune to lighting and environmental conditions, thus enhancing safety and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
Each radar sensor includes a millimeter wave (mmW) radar configured to generate mmW radar data corresponding to a door area
Implementation Method 2
Each radar sensor further includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that is configured to generate IMU data corresponding to an orientation of the mmW radar
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic door can include a plurality of millimeter wave (mmW) sensors that are each configured to sense a door area. Each mmW sensor includes a mmW radar configured to capture mmW radar data and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) configured to measure an orientation of the mmW radar. Based on IMU data from the mmW sensors, the mmW radar data from the sensors can be combined so that the door areas can form a combined door area. Multiple targets can be detected and tracked through the combined door area at high resolutions and in a variety of environmental conditions. Control of the automatic door can be enhanced in a variety of ways by classifying the targets and predicting their movements in the combined door area. Further, the classification and prediction of targets can facilitate safe and reliable operation by filtering operation based on certain targets and/or motions.